Tax cut extensions fall short in Senate

By
Felicia Sonmez

Two Senate bills that would have extended the Bush-era tax cuts for all but the wealthiest earners failed to reach the Senate floor in a rare Saturday morning session, a mostly symbolic exercise that underscores concerns about the weak economy.

The first measure, which was proposed by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and would have extended the Bush-era tax cuts for income of $250,000 or less for families and $200,000 for individuals, failed by a 53 to 36 vote. Four Democrats -- Sens. Russ Feingold (Wis.), Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Ben Nelson (Neb.) and Jim Webb (Va.) -- as well as Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) joined Republicans in opposing the bill.

The second measure, which was sponsored by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and would have extended the cuts for income under $1 million for families, failed by a 53 to 37 vote. Feingold and Lieberman opposed the measure, as did Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin (Ill.), Tom Harkin (Iowa) and Jay Rockefeller (W.Va.).

Ten Republican senators were not present for the votes; Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) did not vote on the first measure but voted against the second.

Neither bill was expected to pass the 60-vote threshold necessary to avoid a GOP filibuster. Democrats held the votes with the goal of signaling that they're serious about fighting for the middle class and tackling the deficit. But despite ratcheting up the pressure on the GOP in recent days, they were unable to persuade any Republicans to break with their party.

The votes came amid the White House's continuing negotiations with bipartisan, bicameral congressional leaders aimed at reaching an agreement on the tax cuts, with a compromise taking shape that would extend all of the cuts for at least two years.

Addressing reporters Saturday in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, President Obama took aim at Republicans for blocking the measures, charging that "it makes no sense to hold tax cuts for the middle class hostage."

But he vowed to continue working with congressional leaders toward a resolution on the tax issue before the current rates expire as scheduled at the end of the year.

"We need to get this resolved, and I'm confident we can do it," Obama said.

Can someone answer the following question for me. Why is it acceptable to require that the extension of the unemployment benefits be funded (in order not to increase the growing deficit), but it is acceptable to extend the tax rates to folks making $250,000 and above and have no requirement for funding thus adding to the growing deficit.

The logic that folks making $250,000 and above are the ones that create jobs and thus will spur job growth and the economy was not validated earlier in this decade.

The economy lost jobs for two years after President Bush signed the 2001 tax cuts. What will be different this time that will spur job growth? Once again are we doing the same thing and expecting different results?

Can someone answer the following question for me. Why is it acceptable to require that the extension of the unemployment benefits be funded (in order not to increase the growing deficit), but it is acceptable to extend the tax rates to folks making $250,000 and above and have no requirement for funding thus adding to the growing deficit.

The logic that folks making $250,000 and above are the ones that create jobs and thus will spur job growth and the economy was not validated earlier in this decade.

The economy lost jobs for two years after President Bush signed the 2001 tax cuts. What will be different this time that will spur job growth? Once again are we doing the same thing and expecting different results?

Can someone answer the following question for me. Why is it acceptable to require that the extension of the unemployment benefits be funded (in order not to increase the growing deficit), but it is acceptable to extend the tax rates to folks making $250,000 and above and have no requirement for funding thus adding to the growing deficit.

The logic that folks making $250,000 and above are the ones that create jobs and thus will spur job growth and the economy was not validated earlier in this decade.

The economy lost jobs for two years after President Bush signed the 2001 tax cuts. What will be different this time that will spur job growth? Once again are we doing the same thing and expecting different results?

I get a gut feeling the bottom 50%, whatever you call them - "deadbeats" - would gladly pay taxes if it meant making ends meet. But when retirement funds evaporate into thin air while CEOs escape with billions (pretty darn "scott-free" if you ask me), jobs are sent overseas, and when some corrupt members of America's financial elite do whatever they can to shove the middle class into the soles of society - then don't be surprised when one in two Americans can't afford to give back like your friends do.

How come 47% get off Scott free and the "rich" are supposed to pay for the deadbeats?

"Because they can afford it" is what Libs say - so go next door to your neighbor and take his 60" LCD TV he just bout - "he can afford it". You, of course, would be shot by your neighbor and if you live will be sent to prison.

But because deadbeats ban together they can send in the IRS to steal your money and throw you in prison if you get in the way.

Socialists/Marxists/communists/Liberals/Union thugs all think this way - ban together and screw the company or the country - what's the difference????

1 Nov 2010
Folks,
Obama’s GAME (Great American Marxist Experiment) is over, a failure. Marxism goes against the basic human instincts that freedom is a natural, God-given right, that what you make (or earn) is yours to keep, that family, not government, is the basic social unit. Democrats have historically been the party to raise taxes and increase the size of government, but Obama, Reid, and Pelosi have taken these mistaken policies to the extreme. Republicans, Independents, and Tea Party members will now be forever vigilant of the Left and we will vote.
Tom Johnson, Largo, Florida

1 Nov 2010
Folks,
Obama’s GAME (Great American Marxist Experiment) is over, a failure. Marxism goes against the basic human instincts that freedom is a natural, God-given right, that what you make (or earn) is yours to keep, that family, not government, is the basic social unit. Democrats have historically been the party to raise taxes and increase the size of government, but Obama, Reid, and Pelosi have taken these mistaken policies to the extreme. Republicans, Independents, and Tea Party members will now be forever vigilant of the Left and we will vote.
Tom Johnson, Largo, Florida

All the Marxist mumbo jumbo about how taxing people "by ability to pay" rather than as beneficiaries of a standard service, has so completely dominated education for decades that both parties may never escape from the premise of socialist superstitions about the purpose of taxation is not to raise revenue but to change the social order. The rich in America get far more benefits from leaders of the Democratic Party than from Republicans and yet the gullible GOP always seems willing and eager to take the fall for the bogus charge of favoring special treatment for the rich. They don't call the GOP the stupid party for nothin.

All the Marxist mumbo jumbo about how taxing people "by ability to pay" rather than as beneficiaries of a standard service, has so completely dominated education for decades that both parties may never escape from the premise of socialist superstitions about the purpose of taxation is not to raise revenue but to change the social order. The rich in America get far more benefits from leaders of the Democratic Party than from Republicans and yet the gullible GOP always seems willing and eager to take the fall for the bogus charge of favoring special treatment for the rich. They don't call the GOP the stupid party for nothin.

This is definition of insanity. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome. The Bush tax cuts have not benefited the economy. They have made the rich richer and the poor and middle class poorer. Our gobmint must be in bed with Alquida and the Bankster Ganksters.

As you can see, we are absolutely on the BOTTOM, yet the wealthiest of Republican is always squacking!"

What was your point? You did not provide any index details as to who is in those brackets. We certainly aren't on the bottom of any tax list, except on your list...and guess what the countries above us all share? Let me help you. All their economies are less productive, the citizens less well off on average and all (except Canada and Norway, natural resource rich) are facing serious economic futures brought about by their socialistic systems...

I wonder why they still call these "tax cuts?" They are the tax rates and they have been in place for 10 years, one of the longest periods in history without a change to rates. If they expire, it will be the single largest tax INCREASE in the history of the republic, in the middle of the weakest economic recovery and highest sustained unemployment since the Great Depression. That is the point, and why if the Democrats don't admit another defeat and do the right thing, they are doomed to worse in 2012. That will be the reason the cuts will be extended (rates remain in effect) in toto. The dems have history, economics and the American people against them.

All this Storm and Drang is giving the Democrats exactly what they want - no tax cuts for anyone. And that is exactly what is going to happen after all this is said and done. The Bush tax cuts will not be extended for anyone, and the AMT will not be delayed another year.

And since the AMT fix is for 2010, it can't be fixed retroactively once the tax filing season begins early next year.

The posts against the Republicans are ludicrous in light of the fact that the Dems have no plan other than socialism and to blame Bush. Of course they neglect to mention that much of what happened during the Bush Presidency was the product of a Democratically controlled Congress (Remember Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac). Obama has had two years of astonsihingly terrible results. He has done nothing but make things worse. The Dems can continue to push their losiing policies but will have nobody to blame but themselves when the economy continues to get worse - or - they might try the Republican ideas that have worked in the past and not look like complete idiots!

The real question here is "Do the Democrats want to take America with them over the cliff (like lemmings) or do they care enough about Americans to admit that what they are doing is foolish?

We will all certainly know how that works out before the 2012 elections.

This leaves the "rich" as the principal engine behind job growth, especially when it comes to small businesses have been the mainstay of American job creation for decades.

If you favor tax hikes on the rich, as Obama does, then you, by definition, favor reducing job creation even more. You can't favor the first without favoring the second.

If the problem in America was lack of demand, then Obama's trillions of new debt would have spurred demand and caused significant job creation. It did not.

The problem in America among the people who hire is fear of the government. Fear of higher taxation. Fear of the healthcare "reform" that will cause massive misallocation of resources. Fear of increasingly ridiculous regulation of every jot and tittle of business life.

Add to this a fear of an administration that appears to be completely feckless and incompetent in foreign relations, as well as almost childishly obsessed with "green" energy projects that are merely sinkholes of tax dollars while actual energy sources go undeveloped or smothered in red tape.

Finally, add to all the above the reality of Obama's debt. Eventually, because Obama has ramped up currency creation to an all-time high, inflation is going to accelerate. This is a given. That means the dollar's purchasing power will be reduced for all consumers. It is difficult to make long-term investments knowing that, sooner or later, the dollar will be hammered by inflation.

Without an environment conducive to long-term planning by businesses, there will be no large-scale job creation.

With Obama as president, there is really no reason why the economy should grow much. Obama is militantly anti-business, ideologically and politically. This is inarguable.

Until he is gone from office, or neutralized by the Republicans, the economy will continue to do little more than continue a slow crawl.

When Democrats Government of Obama administration print more than enough money to save our economy, did it help economy?
That money came to banks and banks invest them in places, where the profit is bigger.
Unfortunately it is not in USA.
When Republican in power cut taxes, owners of the businesses put money in places, where the profit is bigger.
Sorry it also wasn’t in USA.
The best economists from both parties tried to help USA economy and they failed.

Why it is happen?

Answer could be only one – we need more than money to create jobs for American people.
We need new ideas from scientists, engineers, and inventors to create new possibilities for our country.
Our mass media, our main parties are still living in 1980.

We are living in globalization economy with another rules of engagement.

All of these comments can be answered in just one word - FairTax. Whether or not people feel that it will never pass should not be a reason to not be for it. Discussions and comments like these posted would no longer be written since off shore jobs would come back, there would be no quibbling about tax rates and people (everybody) including the rich would pay a tax. I would love to pay a 23% sales tax when I would be receiving my entire paycheck.

Also, as I have stated before, we pay the LOWEST tax rates of any industrialized nation, and we aren't even very industrialized anymore because the Republicans found out they can make a lot bigger profit by going to countries where they still have SLAVE LABOR! Obama tried to pin EXTRA tax onto those corporations as a penalty, and the Republicans voted AGAINST it

"TruBlueTopaz" is obviously ANOTHER one who doesn't have a clue what's happening, (and people like this actually get to VOTE)! The Democrats aren't the ones causing the problem, and YOUR version isn't even the problem. Please figure out what is happening before you progress to advertising your ignorance to the public.

"We pay the LOWEST tax rates of any industrialized nation, and we aren't even very industrialized anymore because the Republicans found out they can make a lot bigger profit by going to countries where they still have SLAVE LABOR! Obama tried to pin EXTRA tax onto those countries as a penalty, and the Republicans voted AGAINST it!"

Not true-Iceland, Ireland, Australia, MEXICO, New Zealand and Korea all pay lower individual and corporate taxes than the US. As for offshoring jobs, look no further than the restrictions on environmental issues as exist in California and the heavy hand of unions who create such a divisive force that jobs are driven offshore because businesses cannot keep the doors open and remain competitive on the ever popular Global Economy. Hint: try reading blogs outside of Mother Jones or HuffPo for your stats.

The actions by the Democrats are the epitome of irony. They want all taxpayers to pay more, yet their own ranks are full of congresscritters and senators that have failed to pay taxes. In the administration, it's worse. The guy in charge of the treasury evidently can't manage to use a tax program that is sold in every Walmart and Walgreen's in the nation and used by many of us in flyover country without a problem. He didn't pay until he was caught. This is a common trend, Dodds, Rangel and no doubt countless more have enriched themselves on our dime. They want us to pay more so that they can continue their agenda. And what is the worst issue is that they intend to pass the Dream Act to pay for the college educations of the children of illegal immigrants at a time when many in the middle class cannot afford to send their kids to community college. If this doesn't clearly demonstrate the continued arrogance and dismissive attitude of the Left in this nation, then I do not know what does. All I know is that every single action, from Obamacare, to offshore bans, to European bank bailouts and loans to drill for Soros have come out of my paycheck. If illegals don't have to pay, then I stop my payments to ACS right now. If congresscritters don't have to pay taxes, then I will tear up my form on the front steps of the Dallas area IRS office. This is over. We are done here. Time to take control.

The actions by the Democrats are the epitome of irony. They want all taxpayers to pay more, yet their own ranks are full of congresscritters and senators that have failed to pay taxes. In the administration, it's worse. The guy in charge of the treasury evidently can't manage to use a tax program that is sold in every Walmart and Walgreen's in the nation and used by many of us in flyover country without a problem. He didn't pay until he was caught. This is a common trend, Dodds, Rangel and no doubt countless more have enriched themselves on our dime. They want us to pay more so that they can continue their agenda. And what is the worst issue is that they intend to pass the Dream Act to pay for the college educations of the children of illegal immigrants at a time when many in the middle class cannot afford to send their kids to community college. If this doesn't clearly demonstrate the continued arrogance and dismissive attitude of the Left in this nation, then I do not know what does. All I know is that every single action, from Obamacare, to offshore bans, to European bank bailouts and loans to drill for Soros have come out of my paycheck. If illegals don't have to pay, then I stop my payments to ACS right now. If congresscritters don't have to pay taxes, then I will tear up my form on the front steps of the Dallas area IRS office. This is over. We are done here. Time to take control.

"TheBabeNemo", do you actually think the Republicans even CARE?? It is not THEY or THEIR CHILDREN who will go hungry! Republicans have notoriously been selfish and greedy, making debts only to benefit themselves! Yet, MANY of these unemployed and middle class people were stupid enough to vote REPUBLICAN because they FELL for all the propaganda!

Everyone should know by now that Republicans are 50% propaganda, 40% hypocrite, and 10% selfish greed. They prefer to obstruct instead of accomplish. If you look up "REPUBLICAN ACCOMPLISHMENTS on the internet, you will find ZERO! You can't trust them as far as you can throw them. I fell for the propaganda ONCE myself before I grew up and learned how to THINK! I voted for Barry Goldwater!

Sorry "dstafford2", but if Economics 101 worked in advanced, complex cases that we have in our nation, there wouldn't be Advanced Economics classes 122, 135, etc.

Please go back to school. Your theory is just that; a theory. Book smart and life stupid! It's as effective as as similar to Reagan's "Trickle Down" policy that never trickled down! In fact, some people are STILL waiting for it to "trickle down"!

Posted by: newsmctado
Just as a matter of basic facts. Does anyone proposing an extension of the Bush Tax Cuts for those making $250K+ actually know what the percentage increase is going to be for those individuals? 4.6%. 4.6%! That's what, according to Limbaugh, Palin, Boehner and McConnell, is going to turn America into a socialist hell. The highest marginal tax rate going from 35% to 39.6% Is going to make us all socialists. But wait, wasn't the highest marginal tax rate under Eisenhower 90%? Wasn't it 50% under Reagan? Does that mean that we've been socialists for the past 50 years? NO. Because claiming that a tax increase of 4.6% on the highest earners is socialism is idiotic. Fearmongering has no place in rational politics, but that's all the conservatives have.

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I'm not disagreeing with your argument newsmctado, but if you think those making millions of dollars a year are paying anywhere close to 35%, you're sorely mistaken.

Most of those people make their earnings from the stock market in dividends and the buying and selling of stock in corporations. Both long and short selling.

When they pay taxes on these investments, it's paid at a capital gains tax rate of 15%, not 35%. That's why a majority of board members and upper management of corporation accept stock options in companies rather than an actual salary. So they don't have to pay the same taxes the rest of us are paying.

when does Congress go on their last recess for Xmas? Monday the 20th or Friday the 24th of December. Surely it's sometime in that week.

If nothing is accomplished by Monday the 20th, the unemployed will have lost 2 & possibly 3 weeks of checks. Everyone's getting evicted and there is no Xmas for the kids (but yet, the rhetoric is "save the deficit because of the children of America we will leave it to"). What a crock. Deny families and children now but tout that the deficit is going to be too high for children growing up 10 years from now. Never cared about the children before.

Even if it is settled by the 20th and unemployment extensions are granted, the back checks have to be processed (just like the July 22nd extension was late)
and there goes Xmas again. Not in time.

And most unemployed, in dire straits people can't afford Dec. rent already because checks stopped 11-28-10. Evicted for Xmas, how nice. Utilities shut off for Xmas. No food. Foreclosed by February 2011.
Thanks Repulsives, you repulse me.

- The wealthy create jobs when unfettered by government intrusion. This is when real jobs based on competitive strength in a competitive marketplace are created.

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Let me help you with one of the most basic concepts taught in Economics 101 dstafford2.

Supply and Demand

If no one is demanding product in the marketplace, the supply from manufacturers and growers doesn't turn over fast enough, hence employees are let go. Not hired.

Why would anyone hire workers who aren't needed? Why would consumers, consume when they're not sure where their next meal is coming from? Why, when the Republicans brought up the major concern over our country's debt in the first place, want to give tax cuts to those who don't need it, and probably buy products that are manufactured overseas in the first place.

And how would investment in companies that increase their manufacturing capabilities overseas, in any way help employment here in the United States.

I didn't hear you volunteering to take a pay cut to make us more competitive with third world countries. I don't hear CEO's or directors of corporations and it's management willing to take a pay cut that would equalize their pay with foreign corporations. But you're certainly willing to make people who likely have more skills than yourself take a pay cut. You're a joke!

Yes "whatchamacallit", the Republican INTENDED for lots of people to be deluded by their lies and so vote in the Republicans, who didn't even have to spend a dime if they didn't feel lie it. The Republican corporation "person"s $4 BILLION DOLLARS was enough to buy a seat in Congress even for an AXE murderer. People were brainwashed who NOT to vote for, NOT who TO vote for. THAT was the psychology of the whole sale! Most people didn't even KNOW who they voted FOR, They just didn't want to vote for the Democrat who had been so trashed and slandered even his own Mother wouldn't have voted for him/her. The campaign was to BUY the seats for the Republicans, even the crazies! I'm happily surprised that MANY people were actually smart enough to realize that the crazies didn't have enough brains for the seat, no matter how much was PAID for it!

We pay the LOWEST tax rates of any industrialized nation, and we aren't even very industrialized anymore because the Republicans found out they can make a lot bigger profit by going to countries where they still have SLAVE LABOR! Obama tried to pin EXTRA tax onto those corporations as a penalty, and the Republicans voted AGAINST it!

GOP members of the Senate are behaving like four-year-old nascent bullies. They want everybody to continue to enjoy the Bush tax cuts. But if only people of ordinary means are given that favor, and the wealthy and ultra-wealthy are not, then they are taking the ball home: end of game. Well, two can play that game. No tax cuts for the middle class? Jobs exported wholesale to Asia? All righty then. Your favorite wars get defunded along with all the expensive weapon system development programs the Pentagon exists to dole money to. And the unfortunate corrupt "elected leaders" of Afghanistan will have to learn to live with the millions or billions they have already extracted from Uncle Sam as a bribe to cooperate and keep the war going as long as possible.

We pay the LOWEST tax rates of any industrialized nation, and we aren't even very industrialized anymore because the Republicans found out they can make a lot bigger profit by going to countries where they still have SLAVE LABOR! Obama tried to pin EXTRA tax onto those countries as a penalty, and the Republicans voted AGAINST it!

We are quickly becoming another 3rd World nation that benefits the wealthiest members of society and the GOP spits in the face of average Americans who need help. We are the ones who pay the price by sending our kids into war (how many of these Legislators have got their kids in our military service?) We are the ones who pay the brunt of all taxes and get few benefits. Those who are long-term unemployed are the ones who are not getting an extension on unemployment benefits. It is like we do not exist, except to keep paying for these schmucks to curry favor/brown nose the US Chamber of Commerce and big business interests. This is the stuff why revolutions occur abroad. Have we forgotten our own history of abuse by British colonialism? Enough is enough.

It looks like "dstafford2" hasn't been following the program at all! The Bush tax cuts are EXACTLY that, tax cuts! And, the REASON the Senate voted AGAINST the tax cuts was because it included ONLY the tax cuts to the MAJORITY in our country~~ALL of US who make LESS than $250,000 EACH per year. That includes most of the people if not ALL of the people currently B!tch!ng here right now. YES, the REPUBLICANS voted AGAINST our tax cut! Aren't you HAPPY you voted AGAINST yourself AGAIN??

they will not vote FOR it unless the BILLIONAIRES get all the same tax breaks WE do, even though they don't NEED them, as they haven't FELT the recession THEY CAUSED at all anyway, but thet is simply THEIR GREEDY, SELFIS nature! MOST of them have never worked a day in their lives because they INHERITED all their multi-millions or billions!

We are quickly becoming another 3rd World nation that benefits the wealthiest members of society and the GOP spits in the face of average Americans who need help. We are the ones who pay the price by sending our kids into war (how many of these Legislators have got their kids in our military service?) We are the ones who pay the brunt of all taxes and get few benefits. Those who are long-term unemployed are the ones who are not getting an extension on unemployment benefits. It is like we do not exist, except to keep paying for these schmucks to curry favor/brown nose the US Chamber of Commerce and big business interests. This is the stuff why revolutions occur abroad. Have we forgotten our own history of abuse by British colonialism? Enough is enough.

Just as a matter of basic facts. Does anyone proposing an extension of the Bush Tax Cuts for those making $250K+ actually know what the percentage increase is going to be for those individuals? 4.6%. 4.6%! That's what, according to Limbaugh, Palin, Boehner and McConnell, is going to turn America into a socialist hell. The highest marginal tax rate going from 35% to 39.6% Is going to make us all socialists. But wait, wasn't the highest marginal tax rate under Eisenhower 90%? Wasn't it 50% under Reagan? Does that mean that we've been socialists for the past 50 years? NO. Because claiming that a tax increase of 4.6% on the highest earners is socialism is idiotic. Fearmongering has no place in rational politics, but that's all the conservatives have.

The party of NO is and always will be the party of the Rich. Those who voted them in are getting poorer and dumber each year. They actually believe the lies. "I see one-third of a nation ill-housed, ill-clad, and ill-nourished. The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." Second Inaugural Address, Washington, D.C., January 20, 1937.FDR. History is repeating itself thanks to the GOPs inability to learn from the mistakes of the past

"But we'll take 100% renewal of the Bush cuts as a start, at least. - 'D' "

No, you won't. You wouldn't want any broke and desperate people to start shooting the rich trying to get richer on our backs, now, wouldja? I mean, for ever more Americans, life ain't worth crap right now. I'd watch that snotty arrogance. You know how much people that go nuts love taking a bunch of their enemies with 'em, fairly or not.

If that rich people tax cut is NOT renewed, it would pay for EVERY SINGLE CUT that the deficit commission is recommending. Try it and let's see what happens.

I see a lot of Republican this and Democrat that but no place are there actually solutions....
So Republican/Democrat smarties...offer up something. It cannot be all or nothing. We are a democratic society.
As for all the blah blah blah about our party knows how to save and yours does not. Give it up. Every Republican President has run up our national debt. NONE OF THEM HAVE MANAGED TO SAVE A DIME. It is good for the individual who can manage to save a dime. They will need it at tax time. Get ready America the "really smart people" in Washington are taking over. They are going to spend us into oblivion.

Obviously, "Virginia Conservative" doesn't know the history of the illegal immigration either! My GOSH! Do you ever look up the FACTS about ANYTHING??

Republicans imported mexican laborers to work in their corporations as cheap labor! Then woderful President Reagan granted them amnesty. Since then, they all have an anchor baby a year, plus they pay for more of their relatives to come to our country cuz it's a great living, getting medical care and special schooling, where the TEACHERS have to know Spanish, instead of the illegals having to learn English! All the corporations (read "REPUBLICANS") also have their telephone systems programmed to press 1 for English and 2 for Spanish also. You remember?? The SAME way they all had the operator asking: English, Irish, Polish, German, Finn, Italian? etc. for OUR LEGALLY immigrated ancestors~~you MUST remember the precedent for this "specialized" treatment of OUR ancestors too, don't you?? And then, didn't they ALSO require all the teachers and other employers to all speak all these other foreign languages too, instead of the immigrants learning OUR language??

The reason these illegal aliens get such preferential treatment is because they work for "CASH", the MAGIC WORD to ALL Republican corporations because it is almost IMPOSSIBLE to trace! The employers of illegals LOVE it because it means MUCH LESS monkey business with government paperwork, and the BANKS also love it because the federal government has no clue how much of that illegal cash they are laundering, so banks ESPECIALLY love the illegals! Most of the CASH is then telegraphed back "home", so it doesn't benefit our country at all, and many of the I.D. cards and Social Security cards are phoney! Specially trained illegals make ALL the crooked I.D.s needed (for a price, of course!)

However, NEITHER the Republicans (WHO originated the problem) NOR the Democrats have tackled the problem of trying to make these illegals LEGAL! MOST of them even REFUSE to or are not even TRYING to learn English because they don't HAVE to!! They have their own "Little Mexicos" set up all over the country, ALL made possible by our friendly little REPUBLICANS, who have FACILITATED their illegal presence!

They MUST be made to LEGALLY go thru the hoops and become citizenss, like OUR ancestors, or get sent back "home", where the majority of their money goes already because WE pay for almost everything else!

I would imagine the Democrats will have to handle THIS failing of the Republicans too, as we have to handle the problems caused by their deficit and their recession, NONE of which ANY Republican wants to take the blame for, so no democrat is supposed to MENTION it! WE are supposed to have the SAME kind of amnesia THEY have! In fact,they would like ity even MORE if we would ALL blame their stupidities on Obama, as they have no consciences in doing!

Posted by: dstafford2
There is no possibility of any compromise with Obama. He has demonized the wealthy for the last time. The wealthy have plenty of existing laws to control them if they engage in wrongdoing without the President issuing anti-rich-person campaigns as if it was a "crime" to be wealthy.

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No Puffy, we simply want the "wealthy" to pay their fair share of the debt that's been created by, yes, the Democrats, but more so over the last 50 years, the Republicans.

But you know, when I've been paying into what many politicians try to pass as the "Social Security Trust Fund" for over 40 years, that's been invaded by mostly Republican Presidents, since our debt has grown exponentially greater under their administrations and now they're trying to screw me out of my retirement money that was promised to me at 65, but now try to take back that promise, I have one thing to say:

Yes, lying Confederate, it was - for hundreds of millions of Americans. What You meant to say, Scared Boy, is:

'In fact, it wasn't a tax cut bill FOR THE RICH'. Now, if you're too scared to tell the truth, why would anyone give a hoot about anything you say?

"The tax cut bill would have been one that cuts taxes"

Um, again - this bill would've extended tax cuts for the middle and lower classes in the country, given that the rich and corporate have raped the taxpayers for eight years under our favorite mass murdering war criminals - Meat Puppet and Goebbels.

"...simple English that my first grader could easily understand."

Sonny, you wouldn't understand any of this if a first grader explained it to you. Let's see: tax cuts for all but rich people are 'not tax cuts'. I think you actually *need* first grade again. Simple comprehension is your problem.

Posted by: georges2
Hey, Liberal Posters! You lost on November 2. Get used to it! You're not turning this country into a socialist nation. Take responsibility for your actions. Stop having babies out of wedlock. Get off welfare. You'll feel better. If you're not interested, post your address and I'll send you a manual of Korean so you'll know what to ask for once you get there!

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Hey George2 (I'm sorry that we share a first name.) All you have to do is look at the number. States that vote consistent Conservative (such as my home state of South Carolina) receive more in financial aid than they put in. For example: South Carolina receives $1.35 back from the federal government for every $1 it contributes. Overall, conservative states tend to be the largest receivers of federal aid. What does that mean? It means that the liberals that you so deride, are paying for the conservative states to employ firefighters, build roads, hire teachers, pay unemployment benefits, etc. I know, I know; facts have a liberal bias. It's a tragedy. But i'm sure you deserve it right? I mean it's only "welfare" if it's someone else right?
Want proof? Just look at the numbers. Or are you worried that the facts might get in the way of your paranoid ramblings?http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/show/22685.html

The Washington Post's headline manipulators at their very best! Amazingly partisan and pro Democrat was this one...

Here it is:

"Tax Cut Extensions Fall Short in Senate."

In fact, it wasn't a tax cut bill. A tax cut bill would have been one that cuts taxes - simple English that my first grader could easily understand.

If there had been REAL tax cuts in play, they would have passed. The headline would have read:

"Despite Democrat Obstruction, Tax Cuts Pass."

There is no possibility of any compromise with Obama. He has demonized the wealthy for the last time. The wealthy have plenty of existing laws to control them if they engage in wrongdoing without the President issuing anti-rich-person campaigns as if it was a "crime" to be wealthy.

Here are the facts gentle readers:

- The wealthy build investment.

- The wealthy create jobs when unfettered by government intrusion. This is when real jobs based on competitive strength in a competitive marketplace are created.

- Bad guys should be prosecuted. But creating an idiotic new bureaucracy called the "Consumer Financial Protection Agency" will simply chill and frighten investors of all kinds - even the good ones. It will also destroy the American entrepreneurial genius.

- Enforce existing laws, but do not create new ones. The beneficiaries of new regulatory laws are not the people who are supposedly protected, but rather people who vote for the Democrat party, particularly the massive ABA Trial Lawyer bloc who want new ways to bilk the American people with laws that cover areas of human life that can easily be resolved without by a little thing called "common sense." We must fight lawyers and self-serving law makers who think it is the governments job to protect everyone from everyone else in new and creative ways that serve only the rich Trial Laywers and their Democrat party accomplices.

- Remove all but the most necessary regulations and watch the American people's native genius and resilience return once more. Today, that genius is stifled and imprisoned by Democrats, anti-Americans, I'm-a-victim addicts, big-government junkies, and others who simply hate America and have no business being citizens. They abuse the country daily.

- You can help America by locating Democrats in office and working against them at all costs. Vote - against Democrats, whenever you get the opportunity. In so doing, you'll be voting to return America to a country of people with a "Can-Do" spirit once again. It is an imprisoned, shackled country today.

- The Senate is predominantly Democrat. But enough Democrats understand that the overwhelming majority of Americans, particularly Independents, do not want Democrat solutions any more. Americans want tax cuts. They want program cuts. They want people's natural ability to be the edge that gets them to top, and want the rewards when they get there.

We need real tax cuts, yes. But we'll take 100% renewal of the Bush cuts as a start, at least.

The explanation is quite simple Frazil, as many of the Republicans here will testify to, it's because they're in control of our government with their November 2nd landslide victory and they've received a mandate from the American people.

What they don't understand is that the American people wanted to vote for anyone other than Democrat or Republican and actually voted for the Tea Baggers. But that's an issue the GOP will have to deal with come January. It's an issue they either don't understand yet or are trying to figure out a way to deal with.

The Washington Post's headline manipulators at their very best! Amazingly partisan and pro Democrat was this one...

Here it is:

"Tax Cut Extensions Fall Short in Senate."

In fact, it wasn't a tax cut bill. A tax cut bill would have been one that cuts taxes - simple English that my first grader could easily understand.

If there had been REAL tax cuts in play, they would have passed. The headline would have read:

"Despite Democrat Obstruction, Tax Cuts Pass."

There is no possibility of any compromise with Obama. He has demonized the wealthy for the last time. The wealthy have plenty of existing laws to control them if they engage in wrongdoing without the President issuing anti-rich-person campaigns as if it was a "crime" to be wealthy.

Here are the facts gentle readers:

- The wealthy build investment.

- The wealthy create jobs when unfettered by government intrusion. This is when real jobs based on competitive strength in a competitive marketplace are created.

- Bad guys should be prosecuted. But creating an idiotic new bureaucracy called the "Consumer Financial Protection Agency" will simply chill and frighten investors of all kinds - even the good ones. It will also destroy the American entrepreneurial genius.

- Enforce existing laws, but do not create new ones. The beneficiaries of new regulatory laws are not the people who are supposedly protected, but rather people who vote for the Democrat party, particularly the massive ABA Trial Lawyer bloc who want new ways to bilk the American people with laws that cover areas of human life that can easily be resolved without by a little thing called "common sense." We must fight lawyers and self-serving law makers who think it is the governments job to protect everyone from everyone else in new and creative ways that serve only the rich Trial Laywers and their Democrat party accomplices.

- Remove all but the most necessary regulations and watch the American people's native genius and resilience return once more. Today, that genius is stifled and imprisoned by Democrats, anti-Americans, I'm-a-victim addicts, big-government junkies, and others who simply hate America and have no business being citizens. They abuse the country daily.

- You can help America by locating Democrats in office and working against them at all costs. Vote - against Democrats, whenever you get the opportunity. In so doing, you'll be voting to return America to a country of people with a "Can-Do" spirit once again. It is an imprisoned, shackled country today.

- The Senate is predominantly Democrat. But enough Democrats understand that the overwhelming majority of Americans, particularly Independents, do not want Democrat solutions any more. American wants tax cuts. They want program cuts. They want people's natural ability to be the edge that gets them to top, and want's the rewards when they get there.

We need real tax cuts, yes. Still, 100% renewal of the Bush cuts is a start, at least.

It sounds like Congress is playing a game of “Chicken” here. The deadline for passing any bill before the Bush tax rates are history is less than four weeks away. I wonder who will take the political heat when the Bush rates go into effect, due to all of the grandstanding.

However, if the Bush rates become history and the previous rates go into effect the result may actually be a good thing. With the Federal government needing fewer T-bills, many risk adverse investors will then be obliged to move their money from financing public sector debt to the private sector. Furthermore, with the higher tax rates, many investors will be faced with the prospect of either losing part of their horded cash to taxes or investing it to avoid higher tax rates. Assuming this scenario comes to pass, as it did in the 1990s, who deserves the credit?

The Obama administration and big majorities in both Houses cant get a Senate rule change and ram these bills down Republican throats before the break? What is this increasingly simpering, right wing butt kissing Obama DOING? He has stood his ground on NOTHING.

Harry Reid – you just survived a deserved retirement because the Republicans ran a psychotic against you. Youve got NOTHING TO LOSE. Change the Senate rules to a simple majority and pass some of these bills now or resign.

The Dems and the rest of the witless and useless progressive groups will never get a cent again from me. They're useless and feckless, letting the fascists take over.

Obama seems either scared from a threat, or outright paid off – but he certainly has no power over anything anymore. He has taken a public stand, a defiant attitude, on NOTHING.

I can’t STAND the wussy, non-combative nature of the left wing, back to the ‘60s. All talk, zero action. They get a golden opportunity and turn into pussyfooters.

Or just admit Obama stands right of center. Caving in on the public option should have warned everyone that Obama was already through even trying to keep his word. Instead of the first black man elected president, this wimp will be known as an especially weak-willed "leader" in the mold of 1850s President Buchanan, a man who couldnt make a tough decision if his life depended on it.

Fight SOMEthing, Obama, even if it's your wife, as long as we hear about. Otherwise, someone check this guy for a pulse.

The Washington Post's headline manipulators at their very best! Amazingly partisan and pro Democrat was this one...

Here it is:

"Tax Cut Extensions Fall Short in Senate."

In fact, it wasn't a tax cut bill. A tax cut bill would have been one that cuts taxes - simple English that my first grader could easily understand.

If there had been REAL tax cuts in play, they would have passed. The headline would have read:

"Despite Democrat Obstruction, Tax Cuts Pass."

There is no possibility of any compromise with Obama. He has demonized the wealthy for the last time. The wealthy have plenty of existing laws to control them if they engage in wrongdoing without the President issuing anti-rich-person campaigns as if it was a "crime" to be wealthy.

Here are the facts gentle readers:

- The wealthy build investment.

- The wealthy create jobs when unfettered by government intrusion. This is when real jobs based on competitive strength in a competitive marketplace are created.

- Bad guys should be prosecuted. But creating an idiotic new bureaucracy called the "Consumer Financial Protection Agency" will simply chill and frighten investors of all kinds - even the good ones. It will also destroy the American entrepreneurial genius.

- Enforce existing laws, but do not create new ones. The beneficiaries of new regulatory laws are not the people who are supposedly protected, but rather people who vote for the Democrat party, particularly the massive ABA Trial Lawyer bloc who want new ways to bilk the American people with laws that cover areas of human life that can easily be resolved without by a little thing called "common sense." We must fight lawyers and self-serving law makers who think it is the governments job to protect everyone from everyone else in new and creative ways that serve only the rich Trial Laywers and their Democrat party accomplices.

- Remove all but the most necessary regulations and watch the American people's native genius and resilience return once more. Today, that genius is stifled and imprisoned by Democrats, anti-Americans, I'm-a-victim addicts, big-government junkies, and others who simply hate America and have no business being citizens. They abuse the country daily.

- You can help America by locating Democrats in office and working against them at all costs. Vote - against Democrats, whenever you get the opportunity. In so doing, you'll be voting to return America to a country of people with a "Can-Do" spirit once again. It is an imprisoned, shackled country today.

- The Senate is predominantly Democrat. But enough Democrats understand that the overwhelming majority of Americans, particularly Independents, do not want Democrat solutions any more. American wants tax cuts. They want program cuts. They want people's natural ability to be the edge that gets them to top, and want's the rewards when they get there.

We need real tax cuts, yes. Still, 100% renewal of the Bush cuts is a start, at least.

It sounds like Congress is playing a game of “Chicken” here. The deadline for passing any bill before the Bush tax rates are history is less than four weeks away. I wonder who will take the political heat when the Bush rates go into effect, due to all of the grandstanding.

However, if the Bush rates become history and the previous rates go into effect the result may actually be a good thing. With the Federal government needing fewer T-bills, many risk adverse investors will then be obliged to move their money from financing public sector debt to the private sector. Furthermore, with the higher tax rates, many investors will be faced with the prospect of either investing their horded cash or investing it to avoid higher tax rates. Assuming this scenario comes to pass, as it did in the 1990s, who deserves the credit?

Wow, the memory of some Americans is quite short indeed. Does anyone remember how the Bush Tax Cuts were sold to America in the first place? In 2001 we were told by Bush/Cheney, "we're in the most prosperous period in America in decades. Unemployment is dropping. Wealth is rising. Business is growing. We can afford these tax cuts because everyone is making so much money that they will pay for themselves." Unfortunately, the serious economists were right: the tax cuts did not pay for themselves. They increased the earnings of the top 1%, while decreasing the wages and earning power of the bottom 50%. The cuts were coupled with unpaid-for wars and the largest percent increase in wealth disparity of the 20th century. If you want to argue that we can lower taxes when the economy is good, then it makes sense that we should raise taxes on those benefiting most during the recession. Success for the highest earners is paid for by decreased wealth on the middle class. It's time to ask the top 2% of earners to pay their fair share. Unfortunately, the conservative mantra is "lower taxes, all the time, no matter what." It's a platitude, not an economic philosophy. The median tax rate is lower than it has been since the 1950's (where the highest earned income tax rate was 90%). Taxes for the highest earners is lower now than it was under Reagan, while the interest adjusted income of the middle class has fallen. Today the highest 1% of earners makes 23% of all the wealth in America. In 1984, the top 1% made about 14% of all income. In the late 1990's, the top 1% made about 18% of all income. I say again, today the top 1% is making 23% of all income! The top 2% accounts for more income than the bottom 50%.
Since 1984, 80% of all new wealth has gone to the top 1% of earners. In 2010, 98% of Americans got a tax cut. But no. According to Boehner, McConnell and other representatives of the wealthiest, that is un-American.
These are not made up numbers. These are facts. http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/02inpetr.pdf

It is time to ask those succeeding on the middle class's failure to pay their fair share. Let the Bush Tax cuts expire for those making $250K+. It's time they pay their own way.

Posted by: georges2
Hey, Liberal Posters! You lost on November 2. Get used to it! You're not turning this country into a socialist nation. Take responsibility for your actions. Stop having babies out of wedlock. Get off welfare. You'll feel better. If you're not interested, post your address and I'll send you a manual of Korean so you'll know what to ask for once you get there!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Let's see...

A Democratic President, a Democratic majority in the Senate and a Republican majority in the House.

1) refuses to grant tax breaks for the middle class,
2) refuses to provide assistance to long term unemployed by extending unemployment benefits
3) insists upon adding another $700B to the deficit that our children and grandchildren will have to repay

Shame, shame, shame.

It is clear the wealthy special interests and corporations really bought this last election.

It sounds like Congress is playing a game of “Chicken” here. The deadline for passing any bill before the Bush tax rates are history is less than four weeks away. I wonder who will take the political heat when the Bush rates go into effect, due to all of the grandstanding.

However, if the Bush rates become history and the previous rates go into effect pushing many investors out of the T-bill market (due less need to issue T-bills) and into the public sector causing the economy to accelerate, then who will deserves the credit?

It sounds like Congress is playing a game of “Chicken” here. The deadline for passing any bill before the Bush tax rates are history is less than four weeks away. I wonder who will take the political heat when the Bush rates go into effect, due to all of the grandstanding.

However, if the Bush rates become history and the previous rates go into effect pushing many investors out of the T-bill market (due less need to issue T-bills) and into the public sector causing the economy to accelerate, then who will deserves the credit?

The stats show that the tax cuts for the wealthiest will contribute about 20% of the total that will be lost in revenue if all the cuts are extended. Which is to say, a large amount, but not the saving grace we should expect from the super wealthy. If you want to save a lot of money, you let all of them expire.
And what would be wrong with that?
The current talk of $200K as a "middle class" income for a single person is absurd. The median national income is about $40K! In Mississippi it's more like $32K. So, where do we get off thinking latte lovers in their SUVs need tax relief too?
In the precipitous falling in love with the middle class of late, we forgot those who really need help: the working class.

Hey, Liberal Posters! You lost on November 2. Get used to it! You're not turning this country into a socialist nation. Take responsibility for your actions. Stop having babies out of wedlock. Get off welfare. You'll feel better. If you're not interested, post your address and I'll send you a manual of Korean so you'll know what to ask for once you get there!

You still don't get it, do you, Democrats, Liberals, Leftists, Whatever... The reason you got slaughtered at the polls on November 2 is because you believe your lies. REAL Americans believe that in this country, if you work hard and make a lot of money, you'll get to keep it. YOU CREEPS BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A LIMIT TO HOW MUCH A PERSON CAN MAKE AND AFTER THAT YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT ALL BACK TO PAY FOR OUT-OF-WEDLOCK (MOSTLY) BLACK BABIES AND FOOD STAMPS AND OTHER FORMS OF WELFARE!

Posted by: georges2 |
==========================
Wrong, but thanks for playing. Most of the people who receive public assistance are white, not black. And is there some reason a black baby is less worthy of help than a white one?

Successful people living in expensive metropolis cities won't be held hostage by their rural cousins.

A better way would be adjust the threshold base on the 'cost of living' estimates based on the latest census data.

It's no longer about fairness, but on Obama's Velvet Revolution. Take a quick look at a high-end city like Griffin, GA and just look at 6,500 Sq.Ft. mansions for only $275,000. Look if you want the truth.

Posted by: neilc38

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A rather simple explanation neilc38; could you imagine the incredible uproar coming from the "outside the beltway" Americans, if he were to send mixed messages by adjusting his mystical $250,000 plateau in order to appease those living in the DC, New York City, San Francisco and LA areas?

You still don't get it, do you, Democrats, Liberals, Leftists, Whatever... The reason you got slaughtered at the polls on November 2 is because you believe your lies. REAL Americans believe that in this country, if you work hard and make a lot of money, you'll get to keep it. YOU CREEPS BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A LIMIT TO HOW MUCH A PERSON CAN MAKE AND AFTER THAT YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT ALL BACK TO PAY FOR OUT-OF-WEDLOCK (MOSTLY) BLACK BABIES AND FOOD STAMPS AND OTHER FORMS OF WELFARE!

Posted by: georges2 |
==========================
Wrong, but thanks for playing. Most of the people who receive public assistance are white, not black. But thanks for letting us know why you think black babies shouldn't be helped.

The Republicans are for ALL Americans. The Democrats want class warfare! It's not going to happen. It is so sad to read these posts of uneducated people who don't understand American history. NORTH KOREA IS WAITING!!!!

"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled,
public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be
tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be
curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work,
instead of living on public assistance." - Cicero , 55 BC

"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled,
public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be
tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be
curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work,
instead of living on public assistance." - Cicero , 55 BC

Yeppers, veto any bill that holds unemployment extensions as hostage.
Like the Bush Tax Cut bill.

Senate should be happy that the House did pass this Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010 (and they said no to). They may have missed the only boat that was coming into dock.

Oh..and it would be lovely to Executive Order the unemployment extensions.
Excuse-
Congress could not agree on the appropriate Bush Tax Cuts or the logical ones, so on the unemployment issue, I order it (EO #whatever) that unemployment extensions be continued until Feb. 28, 2011.

You still don't get it, do you, Democrats, Liberals, Leftists, Whatever... The reason you got slaughtered at the polls on November 2 is because you believe your lies. REAL Americans believe that in this country, if you work hard and make a lot of money, you'll get to keep it. YOU CREEPS BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A LIMIT TO HOW MUCH A PERSON CAN MAKE AND AFTER THAT YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT ALL BACK TO PAY FOR OUT-OF-WEDLOCK (MOSTLY) BLACK BABIES AND FOOD STAMPS AND OTHER FORMS OF WELFARE! If you were all brighter, you'd know that's the definition of COMMUNISM!! I have a wonderful idea: MOVE TO NORTH KOREA!!!

Posted by: georges2 |
___________
georges2 might consider moving to a desert island where he can create his own reality. Who do you think pays for your police protection, fire department response, trash pick up, medicare if you aren't there yet and all the rest? A desert island won't have any of those things, you get to keep all of your money and, if you rule the place, no black babies! Sounds like nirvana doesn't it, George? Packing yet?

"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled,
public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be
tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be
curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work,
instead of living on public assistance." - Cicero , 55 BC

Slave labor is back, fool. They are called illegal immigrants and your party is doing everything it can to keep them here.

Slave labor supplies almost 100% of the foreign made junk in our stores - and your party, the party of the working man - does absolutely nothing about it.

BTW, in the real labor market, some of the best paid workers are piece workers. Talk to a salesman, a body man anyone who isn't a drone behind a desk.

Too bad you never held a job. You would know that. But then, you probably have more than that in common with Obama.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Actually I'm a self employed Accountant for over 20 years. My household would be included in that mystical $250,000 plateau. Though not that far over where losing the Bush tax cuts would make a difference. With that aside, your rantings about immigrants, slave labor and piece work, I almost felt I needed to get the hip boots out.

By the way, those examples of piece work you gave, I honestly don't remember the last time a salesman, or auto body repairman made a penny or two on a dollar of any sale. If you can help me out on that one, I'd appreciate it.

But anyway, if you were to check out the DHS statistics for the population of unauthorized immigrants to the United States from 2000 to 2009. In 2000 the population was estimated to be 8.5 million.

From 2001 through 2004, I guess the Bush Administrations didn't seem to think that estimate was important, because they didn't keep track of it.

In 2007 it seems there were questions, and we had an increase of 3.8 million immigrants. Now in case you're having an identity crisis, which most Republican are, those were the Bush years.

In 2009, it seems President Obama is attempting to bring this under control, by raiding employers workplaces and fining the companies that hire illegals, where Mr. Bush refused, because the illegal population dropped by a million.

So I don't know where you get slamming President Obama for the lack of concern demonstrated by the Bush Administration.

But isn't it unusual that you want to hold up countries that provide our consumable goods manufactured with slave labor, piece labor and migrant workers, usually Socialist and Communist countries. A bit hypocritical coming from a Republican these days, don't you think?

Successful people living in expensive metropolis cities won't be held hostage by their rural cousins.

A better way would be adjust the threshold base on the 'cost of living' estimates based on the latest census data.

It's no longer about fairness, but on Obama's Velvet Revolution. Take a quick look at a high-end city like Griffin, GA and just look at 6,500 Sq.Ft. mansions for only $275,000. Look if you want the truth.

It would be an interesting gamble, if President Obama threatened to veto any bill with a tax increase for the wealthy.
It would force the opposition into an equally interesting choice: enrich the rich, and endanger the middle class. Or, agree to the partial increase.
Either way, Mr. Obama would not be blamed for raising taxes on the middle class.
And finally, he will have shown some backbone.

EVERYBODY knows that the Democrats would've won, hands down, without the corporation "PERSON", created by Bush's Supreme Court, BUYING the Congressional seats with their $4 BILLION dollars of popaganda.

Do you even KNOW how MUCH money $4 BILLION DOLLARS is??

1. A billion seconds ago it was 1976.
2. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
3. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age
4. A billion hours is about 114,155.25 years
5. A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet
6. A billion inches is 15,783 miles, more than halfway around the earth

THIS is ONE billion! It took 4 TIMES that much money in only a MID-term election, to BUY the minds of the voters with lies, and, in other words, to BUY the votes in order to get Republicans into Congress.

You see, REPUBLICANS only HAVE money. They do NOT have the votes, or the "PEOPLE", UNLESS they LIE to the "PEOPLE"!

I'm sure happy that "Pro Counsel" has finally found his diagnosis. he's looking for excuss for his delusions so he desn't have to face FACTS. If he wants to get better, he's going to HAVE to face reality!

After the United States Defeated Japan in WW2, Gen Douglas MacArthur administered Japan. Several Japanese were tried and executed for war crimes and the Japanese Emperor anxiously awaited his fate.

But Mac Arthur stayed in his headquarters in Japan and left the Emperor undisturbed in his palace.

Finally the Emperor went to MacArthur’s headquarters where he was greeted with respect- NOT because he deserved it, but because it would be easier to administer Japan if the Emperor was honored, remained in place, but was irrelevant.

MacArthur’s strategy is the roadmap of how the Senate should deal with the failed Obama Presidency–Public respect and honor, but politically irrelevant.

Obama’s pathological narcissism can be used for the good of America as Obama’s primarily seeks praise and adoration–not policy. The batwing left realizes this and are terified.

The Senate leadership will have to exercise more supervision of the Cabinet than usual, due to Obama’s incompetence and sloth. Senior Dem Senators already realize this.

Obama should be Honored, Exalted and Irrelevant–like MacArthur managed the Japanese Emperor.

The Bush Tax Cuts need understood as more than tax cuts. They are a re-engineering of the tax system to ease it for the rich and super rich. Probaby some of it's proponents genuinely thought it might help the nation as a whole, BUT IT DID NOT HELP it hurt. The deficit has grown dramatically, speculation became rampant and uncontrolled, most people's income's were level or went down, and we had a horrible crash and came near to our second great depression.

Letting this bad program stand because of the economic bad times it partly cause is bad policy and bad politics.

Whenever the political environment is dominated by issues of taxation, the GOP sails with the wind at their back. The Democrats predictably resort to class warfare as their strategy of choice, but that methodology just as predictably fails in America----our culture values liberty more than equality. Taxation is inherently an erosion of liberty and the majority of Americans, wealthy or poor, high earning or low earning, rightly despise such confiscatory transfers for reasons other than those fundamental to the preservation of liberty.

All the thoughtless people who voted for these Republicans/Tea Partiers will probably now see that they are not for the poor and the middle class.

Posted by: midas20874
--------------------
It will be blindingly apparent after they are sworn in. I've never understood how people can be duped into voting against their own interests. Guess it shows the power of propaganda.

Posted by: MidwaySailor76 | December 4, 2010 6:30 PM | Report abuse

*******************************************
hate to sound redundant,,,but propaganda was Hitler's forte...and many "conservative" americans live in an illusion created by right wing propaganda...scary times..just read "1984" by Orwell and you will see so many similarities it is incredible...Golstein...a constant enemy...perpetual state of war...thoughtcrime..lies pasing for facts,yet facts due to the BELIEF system...i feel like i'm living in the book itself.

In his monumental work "Hitler and Stalin" Alan Bullock notes both Hitler and Stalin were narcissists. ProCounsel is NOT stating Obama is either Hitler or Stalin. But his analysis, written long before Obama's ascendancy, is a useful model.

Bullock explains narcissism on page 11:

"In such a state only the person himself, his needs,feelings and thoughts, everything and and everybody as they relate to him are experienced as fully real, while everybody and everything otherwise lacks reality or interest."

Bullock describes the effects of narcissism and provides a predictive model useful for Obama on page 343:

"Narcissistic personalities are convinced of their special qualities and their superiority over others, and any threat to this self image--such as being criticized, shown up, or defeated--produces a violent outrage and often a desire for revenge."

Bullock cites 3 psychological reactions Stalin used to guard his narcissistic self image. Bullock credits Robert Tucker for these insights on page 356. The 3 reactions to expect for the Obama profile would be:

a. Repression–simply blankly deny the truth, no matter how obvious or even if caught on video

b. Rationalization-Admit but use the fault as proof of his zeal

c. Projection-Obama will attribute to others the motives and attitudes he refuses to admit in himself

I'm sure happy that "Pro Counsel" has finally found his diagnosis. he's looking for excuss for his delusions so he desn't have to face FACTS. If he wants to get better, he's going to HAVE to face reality!

You still don't get it, do you, Democrats, Liberals, Leftists, Whatever... The reason you got slaughtered at the polls on November 2 is because you believe your lies. REAL Americans believe that in this country, if you work hard and make a lot of money, you'll get to keep it. YOU CREEPS BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A LIMIT TO HOW MUCH A PERSON CAN MAKE AND AFTER THAT YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT ALL BACK TO PAY FOR OUT-OF-WEDLOCK (MOSTLY) BLACK BABIES AND FOOD STAMPS AND OTHER FORMS OF WELFARE! If you were all brighter, you'd know that's the definition of COMMUNISM!! I have a wonderful idea: MOVE TO NORTH KOREA!!!

This bull about leaving our children with a big deficit is just political rhetoric.
Our children can't afford it, yada yada yada.
Posted by: TheBabeNemo | December 4, 2010 5:47 PM
=================================
Wow, Babe, do you even have any children? Or do you live in your parent's basement.
Either way, you're one selfish dude.

All the thoughtless people who voted for these Republicans/Tea Partiers will probably now see that they are not for the poor and the middle class.

Posted by: midas20874
--------------------
It will be blindingly apparent after they are sworn in. I've never understood how people can be duped into voting against their own interests. Guess it shows the power of propaganda.

The Republicans simply don't want to admit the facts, which are published ALL OVER the entire wordwide web, so the ENTIRE world knows what liars they are:

The Republicans and Bush not only put us into the LONGEST recession we have had since th GREAT DEPRESSION, but have also been the laziest at creating new jobs and trying to get us OUT of THEIR messes! Even Bush's unprovoked Wars of Choice suck a trillion dollars a year from our budget that they don't want to pay even their own share of!! They want the Democrats to save them completely from their catastrophes!

I can't BELIEVE that there were SO MANY GULLIBLE voters who fell for their $4 BILLION DOLLARS worth of PROPAGANDA trash, lies, and defamation of our good Congresspeople and put in such impotent, selfish Republican obstructionists in their places by BUYING the seats for them with their lies!! NOW, they'll find out, as the billonaires of Congress continue on their quest to put us into another MAJOR depression! They had it ALMOST accomplished last time, so this time they'll finish it off. they use all their rhetoric about decreasing the deficit, but right now, when they have the chance to PROVE they MEAN something with their words, they are ALREADY proving their HYPOCRISY by continuing their BILLIONS of DOLLARS of tax cuts for their own pockets, instead of putting these BILLIONS TOWARD the deficits THEY created! (Yes, I KNOW they tried to blame the deficits onto Obama and the democrats, but FACTS don't lie!

Of course it didn't pass! McConnell & his party think that it is more important to give tax breaks to their rich supporters - who don't really need them - than it is to give them to the middle class or to extend unemployment benefits to the unemployed.

I wouldn't mind it so much if the rich were actually creating jobs - but they haven't for the past 3 or more years - so why should we believe that they will do it this time?

No, the rich will take their benefits and go shop at Gucci, or Jimmy Choo, or Cartier, or maybe buy a Mercedes or a second or third home. Whereas the middle class might use it to buy an American made car or pay down their mortgage or pay their kids' tuition and the unemployed might have used those extended benefits to put some presents for their kids under their Christmas tree (assuming that they bought an artificial one back when they were still employed.)

The Republicans and their supporters are worse than Dickens' Scrooge, for at least Scrooge eventually saw the error of his ways ... these guys never do.

screwjobwrote:
Nelson, Manchin & Webb all voted against it. It was a bipartisan vote AGAINST RAISING YOUR TAXES.
====================================
I can see that you've earned your name. Unless you make over $250,000, you would've have gotten a TAX CUT, not a hike in taxes. This is shows what a sucessful propaganda network the republicans have that they have convinced poor people that the values of the rich are there values.

screwjobwrote:
Nelson, Manchin & Webb all voted against it. It was a bipartisan vote AGAINST RAISING YOUR TAXES.
====================================
I can see that you've earned your name. Unless you make over $250,000, you would've have gotten a TAX CUT, not a hike in taxes. This is shows what a sucessful propaganda network the republicans have that they have convinced poor people that the values of the rich are there values.

Narcissistic personality disorder is characterized by dramatic, emotional behavior, in the same category as antisocial and borderline personality disorders.

Narcissistic personality disorder symptoms may include:

Believing that you're better than others

Fantasizing about power, success and attractiveness

Exaggerating your achievements or talents

Expecting constant praise and admiration

Believing that you're special and acting accordingly

Failing to recognize other people's emotions and feelings

Expecting others to go along with your ideas and plans

Taking advantage of others

Expressing disdain for those you feel are inferior

Being jealous of others

Believing that others are jealous of you

Trouble keeping healthy relationships

Setting unrealistic goals

Being easily hurt and rejected

Having a fragile self-esteem

Appearing as tough-minded or unemotional

Although some features of narcissistic personality disorder may seem like having confidence or strong self-esteem, it's not the same.

Narcissistic personality disorder crosses the border of healthy confidence and self-esteem into thinking so highly of yourself that you put yourself on a pedestal.

In contrast, people who have healthy confidence and self-esteem don't value themselves more than they value others.

When you have narcissistic personality disorder, you may come across as conceited, boastful or pretentious. You often monopolize conversations. You may belittle or look down on people you perceive as inferior.

You may have a sense of entitlement.

And when you don't receive the special treatment to which you feel entitled, you may become very impatient or angry. You may insist on having "the best" of everything — the best car, athletic club, medical care or social circles, for instance.

But underneath all this behavior often lies a fragile self-esteem.

You have trouble handling anything that may be perceived as criticism. You may have a sense of secret shame and humiliation.

And in order to make yourself feel better, you may react with rage or contempt and efforts to belittle the other person to make yourself appear better.

When to see a doctor

When you have narcissistic personality disorder, you may not want to think that anything could be wrong — doing so wouldn't fit with your self-image of power and perfection. But by definition, narcissistic personality disorder causes problems in many areas of your life, such as relationships, work, school or your financial affairs. You may be generally unhappy and confused by a mix of seemingly contradictory emotions.

Others may not enjoy being around you, and you may find your relationships unfulfilling.

It's sad that the GOP has convinced so many middle class Americans that giving a tax break to millionaires somehow ensures they will get a job. If that was the case, where are all the jobs that would have been created over the last decade? It's a shell game and the GOP has duped millions of hard working people to play - at their own expense.

If Obama wasnt such a dam@ wimp he would just say its going to be my way or the highway. Reagan worked that way and succeeded. I am a republican, but I think the republican congress is going to make a damn@ fool of themselves after the first of the year. He ought to insist on having his way on this or a veto--even if it means I pay more taxes.

the only way I want the feds to raise revenue is by the taxes paid by working people...
there are about 30 million people looking to work and if employed, will give the goverment the money they need thru taxation to fix our problems...

I love it when the Repubs behave like a pack of brats. "If we can't have our way then everybody must suffer."

I only hope that they do the same thing with the Continuing Resolution. Heck, I hope they pull the same stunt when it comes to financing the war efforts. Shut down the government, Repubs, just because it's not being shaped the way that you like it.

It's going to be so nice to watch them dig their own graves in the 2012 elections.

If Obama wasnt such a dam@ wimp he would just say its going to be my way or the highway. Reagan worked that way and succeeded. I am a republican, but I think the republican congress is going to make a damn@ fool of themselves after the first of the year. He ought to insist on having his way on this or a veto--even if it means I pay more taxes.

All the thoughtless people who voted for these Republicans/Tea Partiers will probably now see that they are not for the poor and the middle class. I doubt it though because as one of the victims of the hefty conservative machine, David Brock once wrote in a book, they have been "Blinded by the Right."

Over the 9 years that these rich people have been enjoying the tax breaks which many honest ones among them have claimed that they did not need; why would these block brained Republicans/Tea Partiers continue to cater to them? They senselessly argue that doing so will not benefit the job market. Nonsense!! If they had wanted to create any jobs while they enjoyed the breaks, they would have done so by now. But just like many things by the Republicans/Tea Partiers that defy all logic; this is one of them. But can you blame them? Absolutely not! The blame goes to the ignorant and strictly ideological people that are deficit in simple commonsense who vote for them. I say let all the taxes go up and we will see who will suffer the most most? Those who enabled the Republicans/Tea Partiers in the first place.

Yeah baby. We all noticed the plethora of leftist legislation protecting American labor and how haaaard St Hillary worked for trade reciprocity.

America also noticed how hard the unions worked for socialist health care - and then demanded waivers.

You people are pathetic.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yeah, if only we could bring back slave labor, piece work pay rates and the migrant worker era, it certainly would make for a better world.

Let me ask you a question? If I take a 50% pay cut in order to bring our country in line with the world's manufacturing countries, in order to bring industry back to the country, will the upper crust cut their pay by 50%? Will the CEO's and the rest the management of corporations be willing to take a 50% pay cut?

We finally got what we needed - a clear distinction of who stands with the middle class and who doesn't. This week, 230 of the 251 Republicans in Congress voted to raise taxes on middle class.

Funny how the republicans are stilling clinging to the dead, stinking carcass of "trickle down" economics- even after we have decades of economic data which shows that it's a scam that only benefits the rich.

But they keep selling the same old snake oil to the wingnuts in their base, who keep swallowing it because they were told to.

This is for "greatgran1" who STILL hasn't learned how to resarch and find out the FACTS:
###

"By WSJ Staff: Bush On Jobs: The Worst Track Record On Record:
President George W. Bush entered office in 2001 just as a recession was starting, and is preparing to leave in the middle of a long one. That’s almost 22 months of recession during his 96 months in office.

His job-creation record won’t look much better. The Bush administration created about three million jobs (net) over its eight years, a fraction of the 23 million jobs created under President Bill Clinton’s administration and only slightly better than President George H.W. Bush did in his four years in office."

The latest jobs report was released on Friday and makes clear what most of us already knew: the economy is on a slower path to recovery than most anticipated or expected. In spite of this reality, most people are still overlooking the truth: more private sector jobs have been created just this year than during the entire eight years of the Bush administration.

Is it logical?
Is it logical to give millionaires tax breaks? Their money only goes for them. The same point can be used that is used for unemployment extensions.
Somehow, it trickles into the economy.
Rich buy cars (now that the stimulus worked for GM). Back into the economy. Promote growth, eh???
They get plastic surgery and $1000 Gucci purses.

The unemployment extensions for the unemployed trickle into the economy but not as such high a rate.
Unemployed people who receive the extensions---will continue to buy food on the table, pay the house or rent if they were forced to rent after losing their house, will pay utilities, gas in the car if they haven't lost their car. And maybe one gift for their kids for Xmas.

Does anyone understand just how hard it is out in America today getting and holding a job???? If you already have one and are secure, you are laughing your butt off and saying "let them get off their couch and look" OR "what do I care, it's not happening to me".

People are looking. Make no mistake on that. This is a mess NOT of their doing.

Employers are not hiring. That means no new jobs. Even with the tax cuts extended, the rich employers are going to take the tax cuts AND STILL NOT HIRE !!!
It's the ME generation after all, who's in Congress now. The ME Generation of the 70s or the yuppies of the 80s, Gen X....
they are all in Washington DC now, and all they know is "to milk it for all you can".

Believe me, not extending the cuts for the so-called rich Americans will mean less in the pockets of the middle class, poor and unemployed. One way or the other, the "haves" will make damn sure that they don't lose a cent.

Why does this not surprise me? After all, it's much more important to give large tax cuts to the wealthy (even though those with consciences, like Warren Buffet say they don't need them, but apparently Mitch McConnell's friends do) -- than it is to give tax cuts to the middle class and extend unemployment benefits to the unemployed.

Afterall, it's much more important to give the Republican supporters their large tax breaks so that they can go do their Christmas shopping at Gucci or Cartier or buy a new Mercedes; than it is to extend unemployment insurance so a family can put a turkey on their table at Christmas and a few little gifts for their kids under the tree (assuming they bought an artificial one back when they still had jobs).

Someone should lock McConnell & company up in a windowless room and continuously play Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" between now and the New Year.

Why does this not surprise me? After all, it's much more important to give large tax cuts to the wealthy (even though those with consciences, like Warren Buffet say they don't need them, but apparently Mitch McConnell's friends do) -- than it is to give tax cuts to the middle class and extend unemployment benefits to the unemployed.

Afterall, it's much more important to give the Republican supporters their large tax breaks so that they can go do their Christmas shopping at Gucci or Cartier or buy a new Mercedes; than it is to extend unemployment insurance so a family can put a turkey on their table at Christmas and a few little gifts for their kids under the tree (assuming they bought an artificial one back when they still had jobs).

Someone should lock McConnell & company up in a windowless room and continuously play Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" between now and the New Year.

Why does this not surprise me? After all, it's much more important to give large tax cuts to the wealthy (even though those with consciences, like Warren Buffet say they don't need them, but apparently Mitch McConnell's friends do) -- than it is to give tax cuts to the middle class and extend unemployment benefits to the unemployed.

Afterall, it's much more important to give the Republican supporters their large tax breaks so that they can go do their Christmas shopping at Gucci or Cartier or buy a new Mercedes; than it is to extend unemployment insurance so a family can put a turkey on their table at Christmas and a few little gifts for their kids under the tree (assuming they bought an artificial one back when they still had jobs).

Someone should lock McConnell & company up in a windowless room and continuously play Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" between now and the New Year.

"Nothing is more evil that teaching your children that you can steal from the rich just because they are rich. This is totally unfair. It is clear as a bell the Democrats have absolutely no clue how to create jobs. They have had two years pushing a no jobs stimulus that only stimulated the upward palms of leftists, unions and environmentalists who cannot keep their pants zipped.
We are sick of the wasted spending and the phony baloney excuses. So do not dribble on my leg and tell me the Democrats care about our country. They could get a rats royal about the future of this nation or the debt they have laid at the feet of our children. Get off your rosy arrogant cans and extend the Bush tax cuts to all. This is such a sham.

Posted by: greatgran1 | December 4, 2010 5:48 PM | Report abuse "

_____________________________________

Nothing is more ignorant that in this day and age, you do not recognize that most of the rich have gotten there by stealing (my apologies to the exceptions).

So if the top 2% don't keep their temporary tax cuts, not one gets them. And $700B is not to high a price to make sure the top 2% are taken care of. And the republicans are ready to filibuster for the top 2% and against the middle class. Now they are on the record, though no one on the left doubted who the republican masters are.

Once again the republicans are digging us into deeper debt. No doubt they will blame it on the democrats. Just another lie to add to all the other lies.

I agree, "jklfairwin"! I will ALSO give up any of my Bush-granted tax breaks if it keeps the BILLIONS of DOLLARS of tax breks from the MULTI-MILLIONAIRES and TRILLIONAIRES who don't need it! They are simply selfish, greedy STEALERS, who lie about most of their deductions anyway, while they suck MORE from the governmental trough.

Nothing is more evil that teaching your children that you can steal from the rich just because they are rich. This is totally unfair. It is clear as a bell the Democrats have absolutely no clue how to create jobs. They have had two years pushing a no jobs stimulus that only stimulated the upward palms of leftists, unions and environmentalists who cannot keep their pants zipped.
We are sick of the wasted spending and the phony baloney excuses. So do not dribble on my leg and tell me the Democrats care about our country. They could get a rats royal about the future of this nation or the debt they have laid at the feet of our children. Get off your rosy arrogant cans and extend the Bush tax cuts to all. This is such a sham.

this bull about leaving our children with a big deficit is just political rhetoric.
Our children can't afford it, yada yada yada.

Never cared about the children before.
Never cared about the children with 2 to 4 wars begun or beginning.
Never cared about the children in the Cold War and how much it cost.
Never cared about the children in the Vietnam war and how much that one cost.
Never cared about the children even with No Child Left Behind because States massacred a good law.

All for ME ME ME ME. The mentality of ME only, all others last.
It's been that way for years and isn't changing. This new rhetoric of "the children suffer". Don't make me laugh too hard now !!

This is absurd. I cannot believe that Obama and the Democrats may agree to go along with tax cuts for the rich, above $250,000. Even after all his campaign promises. The rich don't need these tax cuts, it will NOT help the economy, and we have a huge deficit.

If Obama does this, he will finally have lost my vote. I have been steadfastly supporting him against complaints by my progressive friends until now. But this is the last straw for me.

The tax cut needs to end for everybody. Businesses have known for 10 years that the cuts were ending Dec. 31, 2010, so they should have already planned for it. We need to start paying for those two ridiculous wars overseas!

Plus, allowing the tax cuts to die provides money to extend unemployment benefits. Congress has no heart for the holidays if they fail to do so!

Bribing us with our own money, that's what could be said about extending the tax cuts.
But in reality, it's our children who will be forced to pay the $3.7 trillion ten-year cost.
It's an interesting choice: further enrich ourselves with borrowed money, or make some sacrifices for our children.
Previous generations were very clear in their choice. But this generation, I'm not so sure.

President Obama can veto the bill if it includes the millionaires.....but the trick is...unemployment extensions are IN the bill that he will receive....that's why the extensions are "being held hostage".

is it a rock and a hard place?

No...because he can veto the bill and then issue an Executive Order that unemployment benefits get extended.

He can shove it to the Republicans by the Exe. Order. Oh yeah, that would be nice.

President says a compromise by the middle of the week. Let's hope so because the last of unemployment checks will be received by the 99ers on Tuesday 12-7-10.
Doomsday. Just like Pearl Harbor.

Pullin' a Pearl Harbor on the poor or middle class that became poor in the recession/depression. What a concept.

The lying, half-conscious, self-delusional GOP / T Party zombie lapdogs are sleepwalking fools whose only purpose in life is to serve the wealthiest of the wealthy, half of whom don't even WANT that 'help'; most very wealthy people would rather pay their share ( SEE: Buffet, Gates, Turner, and hundreds of others ) !!

The people buying the bg Winnebagos and luxury TV's are the wealthy Republican FEW and the foolish Democrat-income people, who, no doubt, also vote Reublican, AGAINST themselves and their families, who are simply "Charging" these things on their credit cards. Figure it out! Why did so many people lose their houses? Because they have absolutely no clue how to handle money OR credit!!

These are the SAME kids who got 25 presents at each birthday party every year and who never had to work a day in their lives till they graduated from college that Mama and Daddy paid every cent for, and then also charged the house of their dreams, and furnished it instantly, BETTER than Mommy's and Daddy's EVER was furnished (ALL on charge cards and variable interest loans!) Now, they're unemployed and their house is in foreclosure! BooHoo!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Regardless FOOL, if you don't have all those 113+ households out and buying, you aren't going to have a recovery. 5+ million households, just isn't going to cut it!

So do the math!

All we keep hearing is how businesses aren't going to hire with all this government uncertainty. Well when all the Republicans do is filibuster and hold up ANY legislation that could be important for our economy, isn't that just continuing this uncertainty.

President Obama still has at least 2 more years left. Do you honestly believe he'll pass only Republican agenda issues? Do the Republicans actually believe the voters will wait another two years for the economy to turn around, all while they block any legislation to pass that may be positive for our economy simply because it doesn't include those "poor" wealthy folks?

Do not compromise, Mr. President. This is your time to stand tall and show everyone what you are made of. The Republicans have spoken. They are willing to hold middle class hostage to those who are extremely wealthy and increase the deficit in the process, which is something they said they wanted to reduce. It is as simple as that.

The GOP guys have no shame. Please do not compromise for the sake of bipartisanship. These are just bad people.

Hey - how bout it middle class!?
Let's give the wealthiest of the wealthy ANOTHER tax cut to SAVE and/or INVEST in companies that ship middle class jobs to cheap labor countries.
After all, the wealthy are just "spending" their money where they'll get the most return on their money, the same reason many of the other 98% shop wisely at Family Dollar.

Yes! THIS is the mentality of the brain level that fell for the propaganda that BOUGHT our recent election! Look how sad it is!

This woman is actually deluded enough by her Fox-brain that she "believes" she has won something! Even as she sees the OBSTRUCTIONIST party voting AGAINST tax breaks that would benefit her (although she has so much MORE childish fun, calling the party she REALLY belongs in by degrading names, as she was programmed.)She actually REALLY doesn't understand it would help her to vote FOR herself instead of AGAINST herself.) It's just so much more fun pretending to be a child again and not having to THINK!! It's so very sad there are STILL people that simple and gullible!

Hysterical! Rep. Alan Grayson takes the pants down of Rush, Palin, and several other Fox "news" and GOP hypocrites who stand to make 6 to 7 figures off of an extension of extra tax cuts for the top two percent:

I am middle class, well below $250,000 a year. I will gladly give up my tax break in order to prevent the super rich from gorging at the public trough more. Be a man, Obama. Let everyone know you will veto any tax break for those making over $250,00. If so the Republicans will cave. But you have never had any guts, have you?

Hysterical! Rep. Alan Grayson takes the pants down of Rush, Palin, and several other Fox "news" and GOP hypocrites who stand to make 6 to 7 figures off of an extension of extra tax cuts for the top two percent:

So, these republican hypocrites just voted to raise taxes on the middle class. That's not as important to them as getting an extra tax cut for the top two percent, apparently. And they have no problem blocking an extension of unemployment benefits for millions of Americans just before Christmas, or holding the nuclear arms/START Treaty hostage.

Now if you're looking at 2012 and the White House, I sure hope you have someone better than Sarah Palin or Newt Gingrich or any of the new saviors the GOP trots out, but later gets thrown under the bus when it's discovered they're a dud.

The people buying the bg Winnebagos and luxury TV's are the wealthy Republican FEW and the foolish Democrat-income people, who, no doubt, also vote Reublican, AGAINST themselves and their families, who are simply "Charging" these things on their credit cards. Figure it out! Why did so many people lose their houses? Because they have absolutely no clue how to handle money OR credit!!

These are the SAME kids who got 25 presents at each birthday party every year and who never had to work a day in their lives till they graduated from college that Mama and Daddy paid every cent for, and then also charged the house of their dreams, and furnished it instantly, BETTER than Mommy's and Daddy's EVER was furnished (ALL on charge cards and variable interest loans!) Now, they're unemployed and their house is in foreclosure! BooHoo!!

We finally got what we needed - a clear distinction of who stand with the middle class and who doesn't. This week, 230 of the 251 Republicans in Congress voted to raise taxes on middle class.

And they held national security hostage (the START Treaty- approved by our military and members of former republican administrations) to do it, along with an extension of unemployment benefits for millions of Americas (who lost their jobs in large part due to "trickle down" GOP policies).

But hey, no millionaire left behind, right GOP!

The only people who are going to be getting any help from Republicans are the people who absolutely don't need it at all.

Anyone who whines about the federal debt and the yearly deficit, but supports any kind of extension of the Bush tax cuts is either a fool, a hypocrite, or both. You can start to cut the deficit or continue the tax cuts. You can't do both.

Arguing that households with incomes above $250K per year are deserving tax cuts, while opposing extensions of unemployment benefits is the essence of class warfare. Republicans who cry "Class Warfare" are upset because the little people won't quietly go away and die.

Obama's children must be adopted. Either that or Michelle used a sperm donor. Everyone knows that it's impossible for a eunuch like Obama to procreate.

Read "jpost1"s post below. His brainwashed idiocy actually thinks (oxymoron) that the Democrats are brainwashed! It's this Fox-brained idiot who is brainwashed to vote AGAINST himself by the billionaire entertainers who NEED his kind of middle-class income people who are stupid enough to vote AGAINST themselves.

Watching the Republicans in Congress vote AGAINST extending the unemployment compensation benefits for the unemployed (who ARE still unemployed because these wealthy bass turds don't bother to create any jobs as is the fantasy! AND, watching the Senate vote AGAINST the tax breaks for the middle class and poor because they are holding out for their own selfish, greedy billions of dollars of tax breaks is NOT called brainwashing. It's called REALITY!! Republicans ARE very GREEDY and SELFISH!

I'm not talking about the Democrat-income idiots who vote Republican, AGAINST themselves, becaause they don't know any better. I'm talking about the multi-Millionaire Republicans in Congress, who only vote FOR themselves, and to heck with the low-income suckers who voted Republican or Tea Party because they can't figure it out! They simply got screwed for being stupid and voting agaainst themselves. Why doesn't somebody tell them to vote for the party who WORKS FOR them, not their opponent??

I doubt those 12.5 million people who are unemployed are going out and buying 3-D television sets, that are by the way, built overseas, not here in the United States.

I also doubt that those in the middle income range, who may be looking forward to the possibility they may lose their own jobs, or reduced working hours, or pay freezes, would be going out the purchase one of those $100,000 on up to $750,000 Winnebago's.

So who's buying here? And if they're buying right now, under these economic conditions, things must be looking pretty rosy in their neck of the woods.

And if they're actually buying these expensive items, how many American jobs would they actually be saving?

What we've witnessed is more "fleecing of the middle and lower income earners," just so the upper 2% of the wealthiest Americans can buy more Mercedes Benz's, Porsche's, diamonds, baubles, beads and bigger televisions to squeeze into their movie theater rooms. (Again, all manufactured, overseas.)

Please, cut me a break! Employers aren't going to hire if there's no need for the employee because there's no demand. (Economics 101)

And if 95% of American households equal 113 million, while the remaining 5% is a little over 5 million households, could you honestly, without all the political crap, explain how 5% of the households could get us out of this mess?

The Government is completely dysfunctional and the White House is worried about its image.

Obama could call for a March on Washington of the Unemployed, with him speaking from a podium in the middle of the Mall. He could rouse the ire of the crowd against the party of 'NO' and the Democrat turncoats, and thus use the bully pulpit of the Presidency effectively.

He could call all the members of Congress back into session and address them where they live. He could actually embarrass individual members that he knows to be bought and paid for by fat cats.

But, instead, he will govern as usual, accomplishing little or nothing, and letting his mantle of power disappear in 2012.

$373 billion.
That's what extending the tax cuts will add to the federal deficit in just 2011.
Meanwhile, the EU countries are being forced into stern austerity by impatient lenders.
Think it can't happen here?
Just keep borrowing and we'll seal our fate.

The real story here is not how the GOP supposedly triumphed, but why The White House and Senate completely capitulated. The Democrats could have passed any form of the extensions they wanted using RECONCILIATION - the same way the Bush tax cuts were passed in the first place - requiring a simple majority for passage instead of the ridiculous 60 vote supermajority. Whatever they passed would be the law of the and for 10 years. But they chose not to. Why isn't the Post, or any other news organization, reporting on this?

Hey Baggers, those Republicans sure are serious about cutting that deficit you all care so much about right? Right? Ending the ridiculous Bush tax cuts for the wealthy would cut the deficit in half, but you idiots think it would be better to keep bailing out the rich so they can send your job off to China.

You are all a complete joke. You were played by the Koch Brothers and their fellow billionaires in order to make MORE MONEY off of YOU!

You are not in the top 2% of income earners. You likely never will be with the way the GOP wants things. That money the rich are saving will never "trickle down" to you unless you own a bank or an exotic car or boat business. How can you not see that YOU are the ones getting screwed by Boehner and his corporate buddies with this "tax hike" business?

Stop watching fox news. Stop listening to Rush. Stop listening to Sarah Palin. All of them have a personal interest in keeping the tax cuts because THEY will keep extra millions of dollars while you struggle to make ends meet. Of course they want to keep tax cuts for the rich BECAUSE THEY ARE RICH YOU IDIOTS!!

You have been played so badly and you are too caught up in your hatred of anything Obama or liberal to see that the guys you voted for are screwing you. And you trust these big corporate interests over the federal government to run your life? Complete and udder fools.

The real story here is not how the GOP supposedly triumphed, but why The White House and Senate completely capitulated. The Democrats could have passed any form of the extensions they wanted using RECONCILIATION - the same way the Bush tax cuts were passed in the first place - requiring a simple majority for passage instead of the ridiculous 60 vote supermajority. Whatever they passed would be the law of the and for 10 years. But they chose not to. Why isn't the Post, or any other news organization, reporting on this?

Why does this not surprise me? After all, it's much more important to give large tax cuts to the wealthy (even though those with consciences, like Warren Buffet say they don't need them, but apparently Mitch McConnell's friends do) -- than it is to give tax cuts to the middle class and extend unemployment benefits to the unemployed.

Afterall, it's much more important to give the Republican supporters their large tax breaks so that they can go do their Christmas shopping at Gucci or Cartier or buy a new Mercedes; than it is to extend unemployment insurance so a family can put a turkey on their table at Christmas and a few little gifts for their kids under the tree (assuming they bought an artificial one back when they still had jobs).

Someone should lock McConnell & company up in a windowless room and continuously play Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" between now and the New Year.

Any economists out there? What I would like to ask is, if all that is accomplished is that the existing tax rates remain in place, does that count as a stimulus? To me as a layman, it just looks like maintaining the status quo. So if the economy is weak in 2010, it is not going to get any "stimulus" in 2011 just by keeping the same tax rates that are in effect now.

If the tax cuts are allowed to expire, in full or in part, that's a different question, and the economic effect could not be estimated without knowing what is going to be done with the additional tax revenue that is raised.

But assuming that the current tax rates remain in effect for all, that's just maintaining the status quo. I don't see how that is going to stimulate the economy. Some of the politicians talk as if "certainty" is going to stimulate the economy all by itself. I.e., if small businesses are certain what the tax rates are going to be, maybe they will hire. That doesn't make any sense to me. Small businesses are going to hire if they need to add staff to meet demand, not before. What is going to replace the prior stimulus money, which is running out or gone?

Shows you where Republican priorities lie. It's fine with me as long as the Democrats don't cave. I'd rather they expire for everyone than be renewed for the rich. It's a better deal for America and it's about time we put America first.

And on unemployment, if I ran the zoo, I'd find the way to pay for it in the stupid war budget.

because of the dems and the media...
next year...
when the tax increase occurs...
under the obama administration...
layoff as many as you need to...
to maintain your profit center...
most likely you will be laying off those that voted for obama...
and the dems...

There has been a massive distribution of wealth, but it has been to the upper class, who least need it. America used to be about a fair starting line. THose who work harder get ahead , deservedly. That is no longer the case. I hope Obama grows a spine and other anatomic parts, I am beginning to feel that Hilary Clinton would have a stiffer spine and other parts than he does.

It is disgusting to watch the current republican leadership in action, but they obviously neither fear, nor respect Obama, and deservedly so, given the jellyfish like behavior of our president on an issue that he should crushing these republican corporate socialists...

great81...calm down and don't blow a gasket. So, you believe a married couple working and living in New York City making a combined income of 250K are millionaires? You need to get off the farm and see America.

There is simply no data to support the supposition that providing disproportionately huge tax cuts for the top 2% of the wealthiest people results in job creation or other significant economic growth.

Enter the Congressional Republican think tank: since the currently provided huge tax breaks for the wealthy clearly have had no stimulating effect on job growth, let's conclude that we need to further extend said tax cuts indefinitely in order to stimulate job growth.

Me no understand right wing logic.

In fact, the only result that the GOP truly expects is the one that will occur -- the rich will get richer at the expense of everyone else.

Suggestions that tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy will stimulate job growth is simply their cover, their disingenuous talking point designed to try to sell their Reaganomic bill of goods to the public. Ultra-wealthy Americans made a major investment in the Republican Party during the 2010 mid-term elections. The GOP is simply carrying out the job for which they have been duly paid.

When all Americans see their taxes go up in January, Congress still gets a pay raise and free taxpayer health care, no unemployment checks to those who need them and Wall Street paying huge bonuses out of TARP money it will hit the fan.
Every employer who can find away has begun to drop or greatly reduce health care options and when Bank of America is now offering health care supplements something is seriously of whack.

I heard a rumor that Obama wants to bargain, and the trade-off would be tax cut extensions for the DREAM Act. That would be a clever strategy. Get more Hispanics into the country so in they can garner the Hispanic votes and pass tax increases to pay for the next amnesty, for Hispanics, and so on....

Where are those loud mouthed Tea baggers now that the GOP wants to increase the national debt by billions by rewarding millionaires with tax cuts????? Unbelievable, what a bunch of liars. They now have ZERO credibility. All these Tea Baggers should be tea bagged to shut their hypocritical mouths!

I think many of the pro-gop commenters are forgetting (or they don't like to mention)that the reason the repigs passed these tax cuts with a 10-year expiration was because the law required them to pay for them with other budget cuts if they went longer (A law which they overwhelmingly voted for). Like the wars, they didn't want to pay for them. Now we've listened to their BS that everything must be paid for, except once again their tax cuts to the rich. (Remember last week their stand on earmarks, and then 3 days later Kyle inserts one into a bill. Ha! Liars and hypocrites - the GOP-P)

I think many of the pro-gop commenters are forgetting (or they don't like to mention)that the reason the repigs passed these tax cuts with a 10-year expiration, was because the law required them to pay for them with other budget cuts if they went longer (A law which they overwhelmingly voted for). Like the wars, they didn't want to pay for them. Now we've listened to their BS that everything must be paid for, except once again their tax cuts to the rich. (Remember last week their stand on earmarks, and then 3 days later Kyle inserts one into a bill. Ha! Liars and hypocrites - the GOP-P)

Good riddens to Feingold on this one. The senate is so out of touch with reality and the Post is as well 74% of US wanted this to pass. Lousy self-interst senators need to be all docked their pay and excellent health care 'we' pay for...

Good riddens to Feingold on this one. The senate is so out of touch with reality and the Post is as well 74% of US wanted this to pass. Lousy self-interst senators need to be all docked their pay and excellent health care 'we' pay for...

Another comment. What is the average worth of senators and representatives who support tax cuts for the top 2%? Is there some self interest involved here? Do some of them have jobs set up in the future if they vote for tax cuts for the wealthy?

Another comment. What is the average worth of senators and representatives who support tax cuts for the top 2%? Is there some self interest involved here? Do some of them of jobs set up in the future if they vote for tax cuts for the wealthy?

Here's hoping that ALL the Bush tax cuts expire. The Tea Party wanted to sent a message that we need to eliminate our national debt. Well, this is the most obvious way to start: return to the tax code of the 1990s when we actually ran a budget surplus. As any fiscal conservative knows, we never could afford the Bush tax cuts in 2001 and 2003, and we can't afford them now.

This is proof that you democrapers will never cooperate in dealing with the mess they have made in the last four years they have controlled congress. Republicans are now trying to clean up YOUR mess --the jig is up Queen Nancy and your gang, you have been exposed for the disastrous agenda you have tried to jam down our throats. We the people have spoken and we are on to your lies.

I support a massive transfer of wealth to the wealthy, even if it means we have to borrow the money from China. Unlike the poor and middle class, the rich will actually save the money, which prevents us from wasting it on junk like Big Screen TVs and Barbie Dolls.

Hey Baggers, those Republicans sure are serious about cutting that deficit you all care so much about right? Right? Ending the ridiculous Bush tax cuts for the wealthy would cut the deficit in half, but you idiots think it would be better to keep bailing out the rich so they can send your job off to China.

You are all a complete joke. You were played by the Koch Brothers and their fellow billionaires in order to make MORE MONEY off of YOU!

You are not in the top 2% of income earners. You likely never will be with the way the GOP wants things. That money the rich are saving will never "trickle down" to you unless you own a bank or an exotic car or boat business. How can you not see that YOU are the ones getting screwed by Boehner and his corporate buddies with this "tax hike" business?

Stop watching fox news. Stop listening to Rush. Stop listening to Sarah Palin. All of them have a personal interest in keeping the tax cuts because THEY will keep extra millions of dollars while you struggle to make ends meet. Of course they want to keep tax cuts for the rich BECAUSE THEY ARE RICH YOU IDIOTS!!

You have been played so badly and you are too caught up in your hatred of anything Obama or liberal to see that the guys you voted for are screwing you. And you trust these big corporate interests over the federal government to run your life? Complete and udder fools.

The tax cut extension falls short in the Senate because Obama Democrats want to tax upper income house holds. The political liberals want to extend the Bush tax cuts only for Americans with incomes under $250,000. The partisan propaganda against fiscal conservatives is that Republicans support tax breaks for the wealthy.

Republicans and Americans’ fiscal conservatives can show that Americans with income above $250,000 deserve the tax cut extension as much if not more than all other Americans. Run a study of IRS records and find that small businesses represent a high proportion of taxpayers who report income between $250,000 and $750,000 a year.

Nancy Pelosi has shown her partisan Democrat line to extend tax cuts only for incomes under $250,000 so Obama can take from high incomes but not middle income taxpayers. The American people reject Obama’s attempt to discriminate against wealthy Americans and sends a message that government uses discriminatory taxes as a disincentive for achieving wealth and prosperity in the U.S. economy. Do not continue to “slap in the faces” of American small business owners and managers. Thank God for the Republicans.

Republicans, Of the Rich, By the Rich and For the RICH, voted in lockstep against the tax cut for everyone making less than ONE MILLION DOLLARS a year. The poor millionaires can't tolerate a 4% tax increase on the 2nd million they make in one year.

NO ONE DARE talk about Small Business owners. No Small Business owners makes over a million dollars a year.

Republicans speak Debt Reduction out of one side of their mouths. Then vote to add a trillion dollars to the Debt, to benefit the 0.1% RICHEST Americans.

No one can defend the Republicans, Of the RICH, By the RICH and For the RICH!

Buffett cited himself, the third-richest person in the world, as an example. Last year, Buffett said, he was taxed at 17.7 percent on his taxable income of more than $46 million. His receptionist was taxed at about 30 percent.
Buffett said that was despite the fact that he was not trying to avoid paying higher taxes. "I don't have a tax shelter," he said. And he challenged Congress and his audience to see what the people who "clean our offices" are taxed, to loud applause.>>

Buffett cited himself, the third-richest person in the world, as an example. Last year, Buffett said, he was taxed at 17.7 percent on his taxable income of more than $46 million. His receptionist was taxed at about 30 percent.
Buffett said that was despite the fact that he was not trying to avoid paying higher taxes. "I don't have a tax shelter," he said. And he challenged Congress and his audience to see what the people who "clean our offices" are taxed, to loud applause.>>

It's painfully obvious that the little leftist lemmings, blindly following Dear Leader's class warfare meme, have absolutely no knowledge of economics and tax policy. Having been thoroughly indoctrinated in doublespeak, all they can do is spout the mindless talking points drilled into their dull little minds by Barry and his Ministry of Truth. It's all a little too like a bad remake of the movie 1984.

Why can't the Republicans compromise for a two tear extension, to help the 98% that need it, and then do what they can to win the Senate and White House (and the House gain) in 2012 and then make the tax cuts permanent. There needs to be movement. The Republicans winning the House i November was not an endorsement of Republicans, (because they messed up already) but a repudiation of liberal Obama policies. It would be a dire mistake for the Republicans to think any different. Act now for the majority of people.

They now have their followers actually defending the poor rich people. Oh right, their the job creators. If those cuts are so important to job creation, why didn't they work during the Bush years?

Paying for those tax cuts is unnecessary but we MUST pay for an unemployment extension. Their new "just say no" is child nutrition - we MUST pay for child nutrition. Next up will be voting against 9/11 responders (and these aren't just first responders but all those folks who worked on the pile for weeks).

Unbelievable that people voted for Republicans once again. We might as well give up the charade and just finish the handover to the corporations and the wealthy.

Words can't describe the loathsome regard I have for Republicans. If I was religious, I would want a special place in the afterlife for people who would vote against unemployment compensation but slavishly do the bidding of the very rich.

every time they show a picture of Mc Connell followed by Boehner and Cantor it looks like 3 pall bearers heading to a funeral which they hope is Obama's but is actually America's due to their negativity and sucking up to their rich contributors.They need the tax break to pay for their campaign contributions.

100% of working Americans would keep their tax cuts, just the bonus money above $250,000 would be taxed more. Why are the Republicans threatening to filibuster a a bill that would extend tax cuts for 100% of all working Americans?

Before they drop underground again, in the House, the termites are revealed, one more time.
After the start of the year, the only person who will be able to expose the nefarious purposes and evidence of payoffs repaid will be Senator Reid.
He's such a meek and mild gentlemen, I hope Senator Schumer understands he will be the voice of conscience in the Senate.
Schumer's fearless.
I hope those men can carry the load.
Thank goodness Nancy Pelosi will keep the Democrats together in the House, even if they are in the minority.

Whew! Boy, its good to know that someone out there is standing up for poor defenseless millionaires (and income levels above).

Well, the economic reason is obvious -- it's trickle-down economics. By extending all of those rich folk tax breaks (yeah, the ones they have right now) it will keep the economy stimulated so we will stay at the current level of (un)employment! Isn't that great?!!! Maintain the status quo!

And yessiree, the other reason is even more obvious. The Greedy Old Party (GOP) had to come down on the side of the folks that have consistently bought and paid for their election and re-election to office. Well gosh, it makes perfect sense. They can't depend upon the poor and middle class to donate lots of $$$ to their campaigns, or invite them on junkets disguised as Congressional fact-finding trips, or hire them after they retire from "public service". (Heck, who wants to live a middle class life after being an elected GOP congressman?

Yeah, I knew we could depend upon the GOP to behave exactly the way we expected.

Before they drop underground again, in the House, the termites are revealed, one more time.
After the start of the year, the only person who will be able to expose the nefarious purposes and evidence of payoffs repaid will be Senator Reid.
He's such a meek and mild gentlemen, I hope Senator Schumer understands he will be the voice of conscience in the Senate.
Schumer's fearless.
I hope those men can carry the load.
Thank goodness Nancy Pelosi will keep the Democrats together in the House, even if they are in the minority.

If Congress was really serious about cutting the deficit and avoiding economic crisis, it would let all of the tax breaks expire, and use a portion of the $370 billion in first year savings to cushion those in need.
Risking a 'weak' economic recovery is nothing compared to the economic pain we will suffer if we continue to add to our burgeoning debt.

i love it. the republicans are happy to send lower class kids overseas in the name pf patriotism and protecting our country, but paying taxes is too much of a sacrifice for us as we sit in our mcmansions. actually my wife and i have one of those and only have a joint income of less than 200k,but we are as willing as the truly wealthy like gates and buffet to pay back our great country for the blessings it has provided us and our children. i love when these service avoiding patriots like limbaugh, gingrich, etc. send our kids overseas-like johnson sent me and bush 1 sent both of my sons-but don't touch my pocketbook because i might be creating jobs!!! well what have you been doing since 07? i have hired more people in my small business and reduced my personal income because i know the country needs me as i did when i was wounded at khe sanh, but apparently the uber wealthy do not feel that kindof real patriotism. did rush even buy an american made jet?

You've GOT to be kidding! Republicans are fighting ONLY for their own money and selfishness, AGAINST the healing of the enormous deficit they created when they DOUBLED the national debt under Bush, the LAST of the BIG spenders! Republicans are selfish and GREEDY. AND, LAZY!! MOST of "their?" money was inherited, NOT EARNED!!

Republicans fighting for ALL Americans....Dem libs fighting AGAINST the EMPLOYERS....fine...the rich didn't get rich by being stupid. If you raise their taxes, they will lay off workers working for them and raise prices on the goods/services their small businesses produce. In the end, the Federal Government will get more taxes from them, but they will maintain their rich status and the Fed Gov will NEED this increase in revenue to pay unemployment benefits for the newly unemployed...yawn...go for it, dem libs....it won't make a difference.

This story is heart breaking. Where is the humanity? The Bush tax cuts for the upper income earners did not translate into the creation of jobs as they were intended so to continue them at the expense of an increasing deficit is madness. For the Senate to sacrifice tax cuts for the lower and middle income earners is equally illogical and immoral. Upper income earners will still be able to put food on their table and clothes on their backs with a tax cut. Where is the humanity?

If I am not mistaken all the problems started with George II. He started two wars and lowered taxes. Them came a financial disaster and the government had to go to rescue the millionaires. The Republicans want to continue providing welfare to millionaires because that will help the economy and increase their ability to contribute to political campaigns. Sincerely, I am far from being a millionaire and I am willing to pay more taxes. The problem is that the government of this country everyday is more the government of the rich, by the rich, and for the rich. May God protect us from all this charitable souls.

If I am not mistaken all the problems started with George II. He started two wars and lowered taxes. Them came a financial disaster and the government had to go to rescue the millionaires. The Republicans want to continue providing welfare to millionaires because that will help the economy and increase their ability to contribute to political campaigns. Sincerely, I am far from being a millionaire and I am willing to pay more taxes. The problem is that the government of this country everyday is more the government of the rich, by the rich, and for the rich. May God protect us from all this charitable souls.

what say u whiners about ur messiah saving a few $$$$$$$$ withdrawing our troops and $$$$$ from bushmans war,which obozo said he would end? the tax cuts WILL expire and the great one will get his welfare care as a trade off,then this fool and gang will find a way to extort more $$$$$$$$$$ from the taxpayer. not to worry ILLEGALS ur messiah will take care of u . these BS artists never change.

In the pursuit of putting the screws to 5% of the population, the Democrats are prepared to screw the other 95% by allowing their taxes to go up. The country would be better off if the Democrats never got out of bed in the morning. The top income earners already bankroll most of the government. They have done their part. We need smaller government not higher taxes.

The battle is now in the open: the Republican Party is fighting for the top .03% in this nation. Forget the upper middle class, the middle class, and the poor. If you make less than one million per year you mean nothing to the Republican Party. The fact of the matter is: someone has to pay for this nation. The top 1% own well over half the wealth but pay well less than half of the taxes. The less they pay, the more you pay. Perhaps not in “income tax” but via gas tax for example. The tax burden is already on your shoulders, why do you want more of that burden? Why are you fighting so hard so that the rich can grow richer and you grow poorer? The gap between you and the very rich is record width and is getting wider each and every second of the day. Why fight against yourself; this is not the American spirit; indeed, this is how the Nazis, the Communists, and the Socialist gained power; use the ignorance of the people against them. You are being used as a minion of the rich. Fight for yourself and your class; class warfare has been raged by the Republicans, now you know. The only question now is: are you stupid? It is not about those making $250k more a year anymore, now we are talking about those making more than one million a year. Those making less than one million should join the ranks of the people.

The bill that passed in the House IS the bill that means the Middle Class and the poor in our country. The MULTI-Millionaires and Billionaire (the REAL Republicans) are in the tier that hasn't even been voted on ANYWHERE yet.

The Middle Class DOES exist "YET" and is included in the first segment, ~~ those UNDER $250,000. The Republicans don't want it to pass this way because then THEIR MULTI-MILLIONS and BILLIONS probably won't GET their BILLIONS of dollars of tax cuts at all!!

The BIGGEST loss of tax money comes from all the deductions THEY get or lie about on their tax forms, and they don't even FEEL the loss. Those under $250,000 feel every penny of difference. But Republicans have ALWAYS been known to be notoriously selfish. The ONLY money they are wasteful with is putting the governmental money into THER pockets with their REPUBLICAN WELFARE programs (of course, NEVER "called" welfare. They call their rip-off's by OTHER names, like "farm subsidies", etc., but it's they're just "fancier" names for "REPUBLICAN WELFARE"!!)

The Republicans just want power for powers sake..they are willing to continue the farce of job creation by putting the oness on the wealthy by extending the Bush tax cuts..but.. we all know that job creation will not happen ..the tax break is just a way to payback their high end contributors.. and those who voted Republican by now should be having voters remorse..

Eisenhower, Reagon, Nixon, Ford,and George HW Bush. What did they have in common? They were Republican Presidents who didn't gant tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. The economy didn't suffer under these presidents.

georges2:
"The Republicans are thinking of ALL AMERICANS. THAT'S WHY WE SLAUGHTERED YOU IN THE RECENT ELECTION! The Republicans still believe in the American Dream, that the sky is the limit, that you can make as much money as you can if you work hard!"

Wow, sound great! I wish we had some republicans that were actually like that!

Eisenhower, Reagon, Nixon, Ford,and George HW Bush. What did they have in common? They were Republican Presidents who didn't gant tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. The economy didn't suffer under these presidents.

It's quite the juxtaposition to have the president's debt commission crying crocodile tears over the deficit, while Congress debates the number of trillions in deficit spending that will be added as a result of the tax cut extentions.
Yes, extending the tax cuts will curry favor with the voters back home. But it also threatens to be the proverbial straw that breaks the camel's back, sending our country into an EU-style bond crisis.
Then, and only then, will consensus emerge as our foreign lenders demand crippling cuts to our unsustainable budget.
All of this is as predictable as it is preventable. But avoiding this economic calamity involves making tough decisions now.
Or, we can continue the spending binge until it's too late.

Republicans are quick to forget that the Bush tax cuts gave us the Bush economy. Does anybody really want to return to the economy of September 2006? All of our major investment banks failing, our currency collapsing, the market down to 8000, real estate in a tailspin and accelerating unemployment?

Hey Baggers, those Republicans sure are serious about cutting that deficit you all care so much about right? Right? Ending the ridiculous Bush tax cuts for the wealthy would cut the deficit in half, but you idiots think it would be better to keep bailing out the rich so they can send your job off to China.

You are all a complete joke. You were played by the Koch Brothers and their fellow billionaires in order to make MORE MONEY off of YOU!

You are not in the top 2% of income earners. You likely never will be with the way the GOP wants things. That money the rich are saving will never "trickle down" to you unless you own a bank or an exotic car or boat business. How can you not see that YOU are the ones getting screwed by Boehner and his corporate buddies with this "tax hike" business?

Stop watching fox news. Stop listening to Rush. Stop listening to Sarah Palin. All of them have a personal interest in keeping the tax cuts because THEY will keep extra millions of dollars while you struggle to make ends meet. Of course they want to keep tax cuts for the rich BECAUSE THEY ARE RICH YOU IDIOTS!!

You have been played so badly and you are too caught up in your hatred of anything Obama or liberal to see that the guys you voted for are screwing you. And you trust these big corporate interests over the federal government to run your life? Complete and udder fools.

The tax cuts were never a good idea. Originally they were sold as a means of returning Clinton's surplus to the people. The Republicans then squandered this surplus and it no longer exists.

Let the tax cuts expire and pay down the deficits. Pay now and play later.

The Republican notion that deficits don't matter as long as the super rich benefit from the deficits is simply Fox News propaganda. We don't need the $700 billion dollars in deficits that the Republican gift to billionaires will cost us.

Which is more important - tax cuts as we enter the Greatest Depression or paying off some of that GOP wasteful spending from the past 30 years?

The right-wingers have already told the unemployed they are on their own. They also keep telling us the United States can't afford to spend any more money on anything like education, roads, research or cleaning up the environment. (Have you seen that nightmare garbage dump off the east coast lately?)

The regressive radicals also tell us tax cuts for the rich will create jobs. Uh, no, they won't. I am still looking for all those jobs created by the Reagan tax cuts, Bush tax cuts, Contract On America tax cuts AND the cuts from the nightmare years (2001-2008). I don't see any jobs except the middle class jobs exported to Asia and the student part-timer jobs given to the illegals imported to keep from paying benefits and minimum wage.

So, decide if you are telling millions of Americans they have to eat their children to survive or if the rich just can't make that Bondi Beach spring break party this year. Whatever you do, STOP LYING TO THE AMERICAN VOTERS !!!

This isn't a tough issue. Raising anybody's taxes in this dismal economy will slow recovery even more. The worst thing that could happen to Obama would be for Congress to pass a tax hike on wealthy Americans. It would yield less investment and fewer jobs.

All Democrats ever want to do is raise taxes on somebody! Let's get on with a compromise now to hold down EVERYONE'S taxes and extend unemployment benefits for those who are hurting. To hold down the deficit, take money for the unemployment compensation from unspent stimulus funds. That's a good use for the money.

If Obama and the Senate leadership will just get on with a compromise, it might save America from deeper economic disaster.

The first sentence of this article is misleading. It says "Two Senate bills that would have extended the Bush-era tax cuts for all but the wealthiest earners failed to reach the Senate floor." This implies that the tax cuts would not benefit the wealthy. In fact the wealth would receive the greatest cuts ven under the plan proposed. The first 250k or 1 mill of every hosuehold--inclusing the wealthy--would receive tax cuts. In fact the wealth would receive the most because they would receive cuts on the mximum amount possible, unlike other taxpayers.

We just don't believe in taxes to support our wars like the French and Indian War and even after the revoltion how may soldiers had a vote if they didn't own property??? The war is for the stockholders of multi-national corporations but then lots of them aren't even living in this country.

one cannot work if there are no jobs. Entire industries are going down. And if one doesn't have skills, let's say, to move into another field.....or even think of finding a new trade - it costs money to switch trades.

this republican idea that if you work hard, you'll achieve the American Dream of a house, a white picket fence, 2.5 kids and cars in the garage
is old and it is now evident that there is no American Dream.

Get out of your idealistic dream world Republicans and look at the real world, full of the common man, that; obviously, you do not care about one bit.

Dem libs continue to show they cannot lead. They had two votes that they KNEW would fail, but decided the symbolism was important. Note to dem libs: YOU DON'T HAVE TIME FOR SYMBOLISM....stop whining, start leading...remember "you won" and since you insist on following Obama's "leaderless in America" banner, you will soon see leadership when ALL tax rates (hello, that includes the middle class) will continue on January 1st...THANKS TO THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP. 2012 will complete the "reset" started this year.

I honestly believe the lying GOP / T Party lapdogs are semi-conscious, sleepwalking zombies whose only purpose for living is 'protecting' the wealthiest of the wealthy, half of whom don't even want that 'help'.

Far too few posters seem to take into account the fact that the proposal which the House approved and which the Senate turned down, would have added 2-3 TRILLION to the national debt over the next ten years. What the Republicans want would only add 700 billion.

What is the point of accusing the Republicans of being irresponsible if the Democrats are even worse?

As anyone with a little arithmetic can see, Bush cut taxes for EVERYONE, not just the rich and the Democrats have been playing a game of deception pretending that taxes were cut ONLY for the rich. ALL of us benefitted from that reckless action which destroyed Clinton's balanced budget.

The Bush tax cuts should end NOW, or in at most one year, and for everyone.

Bashing the Republicans may give some pleasure, and perhaps it is justified, but it does not qualify as Plan B.

Beware Republicans bearing gifts for billionaires. The income and estate taxes already scheduled in law for 2011 should go into effect. We need to start paying our nation's bills and debt NOW. Time is running out.

1. Here we go again: the trickle down theory of economics which was proven not to work in the eighties. The Republicans don't care about the middle-class. 2. Notice how the Debt Commission wants to cut everything for the middle-class and elderly but give yet another tax break to the wealthy and corporations? (Heck, GE, Google, BOA and Wells Fargo didn't pay any taxes in 2009.) Wake-up folks. Call your congressman/woman. Scream as loud as that arse Boehner.

Dear Everyone who identifies themselves as “Davey Crockett”: You are being used as a pawn by the Koch brothers, the Waltons, Murdoch, even Soros. These are the richest people in America and they got rich off of you; not by being “innovated” but by ripping off their workers (thus creating what welfare state there is) and those who frequent their products. If they do not pay their tax, you will pay it for them. Are you too stupid to realize this? A tax cut for them means you pay more taxes spread out through everything you buy. Put down the musket and pick up a book and read it.

yeppers, forget about the all the people on all the blogs that were crying...

"wait for the mid term elections, republicans will rule, etc. etc. etc."""

well, some ruling the roost.

AND the republicans have come out and said, nothing "on the floor" will move unless the tax cuts are extended for the rich too....(as the bill was originally passed in 2001).

The means the START treaty is held hostage too. But the unemployment benefits being held hostage at Xmas.....my god...
all those happy about the mid terms turning the tide to Republicans better be eating their words !!!

Where are those TEAPARTY Folks who insisted on reducing our DEFICIT? Why are they not condemning the Republican bailout for the rich? I believe that dishing out $700 Billion to only 1% of America is sin. This money is not even paid for-where will the Republicans get funds to cover it? Where is the teaparty? or was it a "fraud party"?

Nancy Pelosi is one of the most deceitful people in government. Consider this statemement: "Giving $700 billion to the wealthiest people in America does add $700 billion dollars to the deficit. And the record and history shows and does not create jobs." Keeping the current tax rates does not "give" money to anyone. Taxation "takes" money from those who have earned the money. It's theft by government decree, and millions of people think it's OK. While most Americans would agree that stealing is wrong, they don’t seem to have a problem if someone steals for them. Consider the following: If John has a financial need, would it be right for him to rob his neighbors to supply that need? Most people would say no. Would it be right for John to get some of his friends to steal for him? Again, most people would say no. What if John convinces enough people to create a civil government that takes money from his neighbors to pay for things John and others need?

Nancy Pelosi is one of the most deceitful people in government. Consider this statemement: "Giving $700 billion to the wealthiest people in America does add $700 billion dollars to the deficit. And the record and history shows and does not create jobs." Keeping the current tax rates does not "give" money to anyone. Taxation "takes" money from those who have earned the money. It's theft by government decree, and millions of people think it's OK. While most Americans would agree that stealing is wrong, they don’t seem to have a problem if someone steals for them. Consider the following: If John has a financial need, would it be right for him to rob his neighbors to supply that need? Most people would say no. Would it be right for John to get some of his friends to steal for him? Again, most people would say no. What if John convinces enough people to create a civil government that takes money from his neighbors to pay for things John and others need?

Hello, Democrats! Are you really so stupid? You held these votes to try to show the American people that the Republicans think only of the rich? Really? The Republicans are thinking of ALL AMERICANS. THAT'S WHY WE SLAUGHTERED YOU IN THE RECENT ELECTION! The Republicans still believe in the American Dream, that the sky is the limit, that you can make as much money as you can if you work hard! The Democrats believe in welfare and food stamps. Hmmm. The Democrats remind me of the days when I lived in the old Soviet Union! The Democrats make good Communists!

Nancy Pelosi is one of the most deceitful people in government. Consider this statemement: "Giving $700 billion to the wealthiest people in America does add $700 billion dollars to the deficit. And the record and history shows and does not create jobs." Keeping the current tax rates does not "give" money to anyone. Taxation "takes" money from those who have earned the money. It's theft by government decree, and millions of people think it's OK. While most Americans would agree that stealing is wrong, they don’t seem to have a problem if someone steals for them. Consider the following: If John has a financial need, would it be right for him to rob his neighbors to supply that need? Most people would say no. Would it be right for John to get some of his friends to steal for him? Again, most people would say no. What if John convinces enough people to create a civil government that takes money from his neighbors to pay for things John and others need?

Only in The Senate could a bill lose by 53-36 or 53-37. The cloture rule must be abolished and replaced with the filibuster.
At least the filibuster forced those opposed to hold the floor physically.
The cloture rule is the U.S.A. of the 21st century in a nutshell.
The cloture rule is our economy now. Based on financials and services. There is no there, there. It is hollow and fake.
The filibuster took real work. Like the manufacturing based economy we used to THRIVE under.
Symbolism over substance. We surely cannot stand with such a weak and will o wispish foundation.

and besides, look at the mess we have been in since they announced the recession in Sept. 2008. 10 years of Bush tax cuts got us in this trouble.
Proof that the rich just took the cuts and ran with them for their own good. The new cars and vacations on the Riveria or Monte Carlo.

There was no trickle down from the rich tax cuts. If there was, where did it go?

I mean it...write your Congressman and tell them (for some and probably majority in high unemployment states)......
tell them that you are eating Ramon noodles and not buying the new winter coat for your kids, aloong with new boots, hats and gloves. And flood their emails.

Interesting point raised in the NY Times about "trash bags". Folks can even afford the trash bags to take out their garbage.
Now that is something to think about. If one buys Force Flex, one can get more garbage in it. Maybe a week's work, so that's one a week. Some families fill within 3 days, get it??? So the prices of these sit at Walmart for a box of 25 bags-you pay 8.99 to 11.00 bucks. Families cannot even afford those. If they can't pay rent, they sure can't pay for cleaning up the garbage.

Even if people get Soc Sec., it's never enough to buy food after the bills are paid. 10 bucks left over after your SS check comes --which is used for paying, utilities, phone, and cable (cable is not a luxury anymore if you bundle-one bill that has to be paid). Forget internet now in these homes. So 10 bucks left for food. Hardly enough.

Watch foreclosures go up as people abandon their homes. Property value goes further down in neighborhoods that have boarded up houses.

Heck, the renters, the ones who got foreclosed upon or abandoned the house, can't even rent now if unemployment ceases. And if they are lucky to have a car, they are moving into it. Homelessness goes up.

We finally got what we needed - a clear distinction of who stand with the middle class and who doesn't.

This week, 230 of the 251 Republicans in Congress voted to raise taxes on middle class, and to hold those tax cuts for the middle class, along with our national security (the universally-approved START Treaty) hostage in order to force America to borrow $700 billion from China to give the top two percent an extra tax cut that no same economist will argue would create any jobs.

Now the Republicans block tax cuts for the middle class and the poor and those they are fighting solely for are now known: the top .03% (wealthiest) of this nation. If the American people are not as dumb as they appear, the Republican Party will be a thing of the past within two years; the Koch brothers, the Waltons, will not enslave this nation.

We are Americans... we are used to being sacrificial lambs for the wealthiest amongst us! We are prepared to go to mart if rich Republicans insist on increasing the nation's deficit by $700 Billion; and all for what? for the rich - who don,t need the money in the first place?! shame on you greedy politicians!

All you teabaggers just got played by your financial benefactors. Unless you make more than $250k (which I'm going to guess if you are posting here you don't), the GOP could care less about you. All of you baggers were used to make the top 2% even richer at your expense. Wake up.

Amazing! Absolutely amazing! Democrats tell young people, especially young BLACK people, "You can be all you want to be! Stay in school! Get a college degree! The future is yours! The sky is the limit!" What they don't add, though, is what you read on this site: BUT IF YOU MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY WE'RE GOING TO FORCE YOU TO PAY MOST OF IT BACK TO THE GOVERNMENT IN THE FORM OF TAXES TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO WORK HARD! What a joke the Democrats are! This is class warfare, and those of us who "make more than we should" - according to the Democrats - will fight to our last breath to stop this from happening.

But how could we?! No tax cut must pass if it includes a tax cut for the top 1% of America's WEALTHIEST Clients! Adding $700 Billion to the deficit is obscene if not downright wrong. Obama must NOT compromise this! Why should we regular people continue sacrificing and funding the Republican campaigns and demands for those who will donate to their corrupt political pockets?

Both sides are holding the "middle class" hostage. If the left refuses to compromise, the middle class will see tax increases. Typical political hypocrisy naked for all to see. What's sad is that obama's resorted to repeating stupid liberal talking points. Unfortunately republicans arent doing a very good job of pointing it out.

In any case, Pelosi's argument that we cant "afford" keeping tax rates low for high earners and that the money would be better spent elsewhere is ridiculous. Even if we accept this blatant contradiction for the sake of argument, the government gave itself a trillion dollars to prove it could make jobs and unemployment is 10%.

How is this senate vote where Republicans are in the MINORITY, the Republicans fault--10 didn't even show up to vote! FOUR Democrats voted against--so it would have taken 4 Democrats and 3 Republicans to pass---Where were the Rinos Snow and Collins? What about Brown?

This ridiculous Saturday session was staged for the benefit of Christianne Ammanpour, and the rest of the left of left water carriers in the Obama sycophant media to trot out on Sunday morning as "those evil Republicans" do it again. Meanwhile, perpetual 10% Obama unemployment rages on..

Obama and the Democrats aren't worth a damn if they cant keep their promises to do away with the Bush tax cuts. The damn rich run the country and we need another Democrat to run for President who can explain why we wont get anywhere giving money to the rich forever while the country goes bankrupt. Bush tax cuts are welfare for the rich who enjoy more benefit than others from living here and keep most of it for their selfish use. No jobs, but a heck of a lot of tax cuts for wealthy buggers. great.

Instead of telling us that Paris Hilton needs a huge tax cut, perhaps Republicans could tell us that America needs another 700 billion dollars in deficits. And that the tax cuts to the rich would fill this need.

I wonder why the GOP insist on cutting taxes for the wealthiest 2%. The GOP seem to believe in wealth hoarding. How many jobs will actually be produced by tax cuts for high earners? Not only that, this gives more power to a few individuals. They get better access to elected officials when one of their interests are being considered. Logically tax cuts for people earning less than 250K makes more sense since this money will likely go directly back into the economy and help produce jobs. What will high earners do with their tax cuts (much larger than what those below 250K will get)?

Yea!! Good job Senate. You forced a relook at this. Now figure out a compromise that gets everybody something. If 200K isn't the right number because it adbersely affects too many small business owners, then find anumber that doesn't...say 400K or 500K...but cripes let's start finding common ground.

I believe this is a total travesty. I believe all the tax cuts should expire even for the middle class. I'm not opposed to paying more taxes to fund the 2 wars we are currently fighting. We just can't keep borrowing money from China to rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan and prop up Israel. If the millionaires created jobs, then tell me - where are all the jobs today? The rethugs make me completely sick to my stomach. There should be someway to stop paying the obstructors in Congress.

Beware rich Republicans. Your non-rich bretheren are finally getting it that extending the Bush era tax cuts to the richest 2% of the population translates into $700 BLLION. Public support for this is plummeting.

yeah, the Slurpee Summit was
"Hi, I"m John Boehner and I am God. Watch people follow me like the Pied Piper"...

The Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010 that the Senate just rejected read pretty good. And in the reading of it, one does come down to the fact that millionaires and billionaires should NOT get a tax cut. They don't need another Mercedes for company travel and then deduct it on their income tax.

The rich "skirt" by on so many things because they have the money to buy in or buy out of deals. Hmmmm, makes me think - how many millionaire drug addicts on meth and cocaine do you think we have???? Or prescription pain killers? God knows the wives of the rich are hooked on plastic surgery.
((oh sorry Republicans if your wife can't get her yearly eye lift or Botox).

Heck, as one of the We, the Poor, that Gucci purse puts 5 to 6 months of food on my table.

Let's all protest. Write your Congressman.
I'm going into www.azleg.gov and write everyone of those Congressional Reps and Senators....starting with John McCain.
!!!!!!!!!!!

These miserable Dims in the House still do not realize why the American people sent 63 of them packing in the elections four weeks ago. They are still playing class warfare games and trying to raise taxes during a recession.

Silly Dims think they can go on with tax and spend policies as usual like nothing happened in the November elections.

Hilarious Dims, go ahead and squander the remaining two weeks of the lame duck session that ends on December the 17th. Not a single piece of legislation will make it through the Senate unless the Bush tax cuts are renewed. That goes for the capital gains tax and the estate tax too.

If a small business is not unionized the democrats want it to fail. That's a fact and undisputed by any reasonable person. The > $250k tax category they want to raise taxes on includes over 1 million businesses that employee nearly 10 million people. 10 million people the democrats want to add to the unemployment rolls.

According to zFacts.com, the US National debt will reach $14 trillion by Jan.2,2011. Next Wednesday,$13.9 trillion is baked in.The Debt ceiling of $14.3 threshold will be breached.
The continuation of Bush's 2001 tax cuts will cost $700 billion to be added in addition to the ongoing deficit of $1.2 trillion every year going forward.
All this debt was not caused by SS or Medicare which are paid for trusts and have not cost the Government one dime to date. The Fed give aways,bank bailouts.free money to banks companies and foreign institutions have allowed huge profits at the expense of taxpayers.
According to zFacts.com again, $12.1 trillion of the $14 trillion National debt was created under Republican Administrations. Under these facts, It is unconscionable to seniors, and all below 50 years of age to allow people earning more than $1 million a year to not pay more in taxes.

*getting rid of the cap on paying Social Security. SS should NOT be a regressive tax. The people who earn higher incomes should see it as their PATRIOTIC duty to keep this country strong by paying their fair share of taxes.

According to Felicia the Democrats' goal is to signal that they're serious about fighting for the middle class and tackling the deficit that translated to plain English is: the Democrats are playing politics as usual in the middle of this recession. The commission named by Obama is just holding any agreement with the Republicans to let the House and the Senate "signal their goal". All the Obama's talk about bipartisanship is pure bs. His only goal is to make political points, and in doing so he is postponing the passing of all the legislation that he said he want to pass before the end of the year.

According to Felicia the Democrats' goal is to signal that they're serious about fighting for the middle class and tackling the deficit that translated to plain English is: the Democrats are playing politics as usual in the middle of this recession. The commission named by Obama is just holding any agreement with the Republicans to let the House and the Senate "signal their goal". All the Obama's talk about bipartisanship is pure bs. His only goal is to make political points, and in doing so he is postponing the passing of all the legislation that he said he want to pass before the end of the year.

Has anyone noted that the "very rich" include a two-income family with both spouses working as GS-13s and above? Get real here. For all those dems bellyaching about how the Republicans are so mean-spirited, evil, etc., why don't they get off their duff and start creating jobs? Why? Because the Republicans are the productive members of this society - they work hard, save, and are entrepreneurial. They know, unlike the liberals, that you just can't keep taxing and giving away money unproductively. This is basic economics. Liberals would rather use "other people's money" to fund their agenda. It's no accident that Pelosi married her money. She doesn't know how to make any herself.

Senate even voted down their own Senate Amendment 4727. And that reads for a year of extensions on unemployment benefits in some places. But the short term is at least until January 3rd.

They won't pass it because of the Bush tax cuts issue.

I don't like this "holding hostage" and steadfast NOs on everything.

President Obama just spoke and said a compromise should be coming this next week.
That would be just in time for the 99ers, whose last check may be 12-4-10 or 12-11-10. Their 12-11-10 check won't have much in it, as they were exhausting their full amounts on 12-4-10. FAC benefit of $25 extra in the check ends
12-11-10.

We don't have time for the Republicans to show they are the party of NO again or to show they are going to make Americans pay. They are like babies throwing temper tantrums.

I fully agree with Bernie Sanders. Millionaires do not need these tax cuts. We do not need to be increasing the national debt in favor of putting millions back into the pockets of the top .2% (who own 10%+ of the country).

Democrats should be outraged at the Repubs. and be marching on Washington.

Only stupidity and jellyfish leaders keep outraged Dems. home.

Why can't Obama get in a Limousine and convene a joint session and cajole these nightmarish legislators into submission?

What the Republican goob foolers don't want you to know is that this was a tax cut for everyone.

Everyone got a tax break on their first $250,000 dollars worth of income.

What the Republicans want is the Bush style tax cut, i.e., one that gives a much greater tax break to the super rich than it does to the middle class rubes and goobs, i.e., people who can be easily diverted from this inequality with Fox News, and hence who don't matter except for purposes of dying in silly, pointless wars.

Hey Republic Party, where to you think the money comes from for your tax cuts for your mega-rich pals? From the fairy god mother? From Santa Claus? No you idiots. From China! We borrow money from China, give it to rich Americans, so they create jobs in...China! Does this make sense?

Hey Republic Party, where to you think the money comes from for your tax cuts for your mega-rich pals? From the fairy god mother? From Santa Claus? No you idiots. From China! We borrow money from China, give it to rich Americans, so they create jobs in...China! Does this make sense?

Has anyone noted that the "very rich" include a two-income family with both spouses working as GS-13s and above? Get real here. For all those dems bellyaching about how the Republicans are so mean-spirited, evil, etc., why don't they get off their duff and start creating jobs? Why? Because the Republicans are the productive members of this society - they work hard, save, and are entrepreneurial. They know, unlike the liberals, that you just can't keep taxing and giving away money unproductively. This is basic economics. Liberals would rather use "other people's money" to fund their agenda. It's no accident that Pelosi married her money. She doesn't know how to make any herself.

Everyone has known that the reduced Bush Tax Rates were due to expire 31 December 2010. That is no surprise, it is in the Law. If Congress would have wanted to extend those tax rates it would have done so by now. Obama promised not to raise the taxes on anyone making more than $200,000 annually ($250,000 for family) and allowing the Bush Tax Rates expire is not Obama raising taxes on anyone. It is merely the fault of the original Legislation putting a moratorium on the tax rates for ten years. If Congress would have wanted the Bush Tax Rates permanent there would have been no moratorium. The only thing that will resurrect the extension of the Bush Tax Cuts is a whole lot of “Deal Making” with both Republicans and Democrats, and it is those “DEALS” that will devastate the taxpayer, not the expiring of the Bush Tax Rate extension. It is still the same Congress today as it was the beginning of this year and this Congress has had enough time to pass the Bush Tax Rate extensions if it wanted to. Probably the only thing that would make Congress extend the Bush Tax Rates (before the end of this year) is if the Dow Jones Dropped 500 points next week; and, if that happens then you know that both Wall Street and Congress are corrupt.

All this vote showed was that the Democrats are still forging ahead with their class warfare; Republicans demonstrated that no matter how much a taxpayer makes, they should be treated the same way. Congress should either let the tax cuts expire - everyone will be impacted proportionately. Or they ought to extend the tax cuts for everyone - so that everyone benefits.

This is what I myself do not understand. The Democrats have had absolute control of both bodies and yet they themselves did not act on this problem until the eleventh hour could it be that they are more interested in trying to make it look like the Republicans are at fault? If in-fact they are for the little guy why did they themselves wait until now to do something could it be that they were to busy shoving bills down the peoples throats and by the way most of the people did not want.

Nelson, Manchin & Webb all voted against it. It was a bipartisan vote AGAINST RAISING YOUR TAXES.

That vote guarantees that the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell which all three Democrats oppose, is not going to be voted on during the lame duck session. Repeal of DADT is now dead: it is going to take the remainder of the session to get taxes straightened out.

Pathetic. This shows how much Republicans are willing to compromise the fiscal state of our nation in order to compensate the higher income bracket while cutting unemployment benefits at the expense of millions of unemployed. If the tax cuts have expired for the millionaire club, the funds would be more than able to cover the unemployment benefits of thousands while still reducing our deficits. Pathetic.

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